STEPHANIE K. BOWMAN, Magistrate Judge.
This civil action is now before the Court on Defendant's motion to compel arbitration and stay proceedings pending arbitration (Doc. 12) and the parties' responsive memoranda. (Docs. 13, 15).
Plaintiff Jerry E. McClure ("McClure"), who resides in Florida, was employed by Defendant HukariAscendent Services, LLC ("Hukari"), a technical and professional services company, for four months approximately two years ago, from November 28, 2016 to February 22, 2017. (Complaint, Doc. 1, PageID 3 at ¶¶ 16, 18, 19; Lawless Decl., Doc. 11, PageID 35 at ¶¶ 4, 7, 8). Prior to starting work at a temporary assignment in Portsmouth, Ohio as a Design Engineer II, McClure signed an Employment Agreement ("Agreement") setting forth the terms and conditions of his employment. (Doc. 11, Lawless Decl. PageID 38-42). Included in that Agreement was a provision requiring that all disputes relating to his employment by Hukari be resolved in binding arbitration. Id.
Despite agreeing that he would arbitrate any dispute relating to his employment with Hukari, on December 11, 2018, McClure instituted this action claiming that Hukari paid him only straight time, rather than time-and-a-half, for hours worked by him over forty in a week. (Complaint, Doc. 1, PageID 1-9). McClure seeks to bring a collective action pursuant to and for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. § 216(b), ("FLSA"), and to bring a class action pursuant to Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for violations of the Ohio Minimum Fair Wage Standards Act, O.R.C. §§ 4111.01, et seq., and the Ohio Prompt Pay Act, § 4113.15.
Hukari now seeks to enforce the terms of the arbitration clause agreed to by the parties, and moves under the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. §§ 1, et seq., for an order compelling arbitration of McClure's claims and dismissing this action.
Plaintiff does not oppose arbitration of his claims, but requests the Court deny Hukari Motion to Dismiss, and instead stay the case and order the parties to proceed with arbitration as agreed. A stay is not necessary and dismissal is appropriate when all of the issues raised in the district court must be submitted to arbitration. Green v. Ameritech Corp., 200 F.3d 967, 973 (6th Cir. 2000). At this time, Plaintiff contends it is unclear if all the issues raised by Plaintiff are subject to the decision of an arbitrator. Specifically, Plaintiff brings this claim as a collective and class action under the FLSA and Rule 23. The arbitration provision requires Plaintiff to submit any dispute or claim arising out of or relating to his employment to arbitration, but it does not address the claims he brings on behalf of the class, nor does it contain a class waiver. (See Doc. 12).
As such, Plaintiff contends it is unclear if all members of the classes will be required to submit their claims to arbitration, and what role, if any, an arbitrator may have on class certification, notice and settlement procedures. See Catamaran Corp. v. Towncrest Pharmacy, 864 F.3d 966, 971 (8th Cir. 2017) ("recent cases have strongly hinted at the Supreme Court's ultimate conclusion: the question of class arbitration is substantive in nature and requires judicial determination"). Because the arbitration provision does not address these facets, Plaintiff claims that prudence supports a stay rather than dismissal.
In response to Plaintiff's arguments, Defendant asserts that Genesis HealthCare Corp. v. Symczyk, 569 U.S. 66 (2012) requires dismissal.
The Court has discretion to stay or dismiss the instant matter. See 9 U.S.C. § 3 (mandating courts to stay proceedings pending completion of arbitration); Hensel v. Cargill, Inc., No. 99-3199, 1999 WL 993775, at *4 (6th Cir. Oct.19, 1999) (permitting courts to dismiss actions in which all claims are referred to arbitration). However, under the guidance of Genesis Healthcare the Court finds that dismissal is appropriate.
For the reasons explained herein,
Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b), any party may serve and file specific, written objections to this Report & Recommendation ("R&R") within