Nonsignatory To Arbitration Agreements May Not Compel Arbitration.

Plaintiffs each own a 2010 Toyota Prius. They signed arbitration agreements with dealerships. The car manufacturer sought to compel arbitration under those arbitration agreements, and the district court denied the request because the manufacturer was a nonsignatory to the arbitration agreements, and because it waived any right to compel arbitration by vigorously litigating the action in district court for nearly two years. The Ninth Circuit agreed and affirmed. Kramer v. Toyota Motor Corporation  (Ninth Cir.;  January 30, 2013) (Case No. 12-55050).