TAYLOR v. CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE HIGHER EDUCATION AKA CEHE (2018)

MEMORANDUM ***

Billy Taylor appeals pro se from the district court's orders granting defendants’ motion to compel arbitration and confirming the arbitration award in his employment action. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo. Biller v. Toyota Motor Corp., 668 F.3d 655, 661 (9th Cir. 2012) (order confirming arbitration award); Harden v. Roadway Package Sys., Inc., 249 F.3d 1137, 1140 (9th Cir. 2001) (order compelling arbitration). We affirm.

The district court properly granted defendants’ motion to compel arbitration because the parties entered into a valid arbitration agreement encompassing the dispute at issue. See Kilgore v. KeyBank, Nat'l Ass'n, 718 F.3d 1052, 1058 (9th Cir. 2013) (Federal Arbitration Act requires that district courts refer cases to arbitration where a valid arbitration agreement covers the dispute at issue); see also K–Line Builders, Inc. v. First Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass'n, 139 Ariz. 209, 677 P.2d 1317, 1320 (1983) (mutuality not needed in the presence of consideration).

Taylor waived any challenge to the district court's order confirming the arbitration award by failing to raise his arguments to the district court. See Smith v. Marsh, 194 F.3d 1045, 1052 (9th Cir. 1999) (“As a general rule, we will not consider arguments that are raised for the first time on appeal.”).

Center for Excellence in Higher Education's motion to strike (Docket Entry No. 28) is granted. Center for Excellence in Higher Education's request for sanctions, attorney's fees, and costs, set forth in the motion to strike, is denied.

AFFIRMED.