in Re: Big 8 Food Stores, Ltd.
Big 8 Food Stores, Ltd. (Relator) sought a writ of mandamus against Judge Javier Alvarez (Respondent) after the trial court denied Big 8's motion to compel arbitration with its employee, Maria Marquez (Real Party in Interest). Marquez, an employee injured on the job, sued Big 8 for negligence. Big 8 asserted the existence of a signed arbitration agreement, which Marquez claimed she did not understand and was fraudulently induced into signing. The appellate court reviewed the denial of the motion to compel arbitration under the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA). The court found that Marquez had signed the agreement, received benefits under it, and there was no evidence of mental incapacity or fraud. The court also determined that Big 8's business operations involved interstate commerce, making the FAA applicable. Consequently, the appellate court conditionally granted the petition for writ of mandamus, directing the trial court to compel arbitration.