Judge: Armen Tamzarian, Case: 24STCV26398, Date: 2025-01-06 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 24STCV26398    Hearing Date: January 6, 2025    Dept: 52

Defendant Public Storage’s Motion to Compel Arbitration

Defendant Public Storage moves to compel arbitration of plaintiff Victoria Castro’s action against it. 

Both the California Arbitration Act and Federal Arbitration Act permit a party to move to enforce an agreement to arbitrate disputes.  (Code Civ. Proc., § 1281.2; 9. U.S.C. § 2.)  A motion to compel arbitration is “a summary proceeding.”  (Espejo v. Southern California Permanente Medical Group (2016) 246 Cal.App.4th 1047, 1057.)  The moving party can meet the “initial burden to show an agreement to arbitrate by attaching a copy of the arbitration agreement purportedly bearing the opposing party’s signature.”  (Id. at p. 1060.) 

Defendant meets its burden.  It presents evidence showing plaintiff signed an agreement to rent a storage unit from defendant in June 2022.  (Rodriguez Decl., ¶ 4, Ex. A.)  The agreement provides, “Both you and Public Storage agree to arbitrate any and all disputes or claims arising out of, in connection with, or in any way relating to the relationship between you and us… .”  (Id., ¶ 6.2.)  Plaintiff’s complaint alleges damages arising from the loss of property taken or stolen from her storage units.  (Comp., ¶¶ BC-2, BC-4.)  The arbitration provision applies to her claims.

Plaintiff gives no basis for the court to deny this motion.  The law favors enforcement of valid arbitration agreements.  (Armendariz v. Foundation Health Psychcare Services, Inc. (2000) 24 Cal.4th 83, 97.)  “ ‘ “[A] party opposing the petition bears the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence any fact necessary to its defense.” ’ ”  (Kader v. Southern California Medical Center, Inc. (2024) 99 Cal.App.5th 214, 221.)  Plaintiff does not meet her burden.

Disposition

            Defendant Public Storage’s motion to compel arbitration is granted.  The court hereby orders plaintiff Victoria Castro to arbitrate her causes of action against defendant pursuant to the parties’ rental agreement.  The court hereby stays the entire action pending resolution of the arbitration proceeding.