STALLWORTH JR. vs STERICYCLE, INC., et al.

26CV010745: STALLWORTH JR. vs STERICYCLE, INC., et al. 07/27/2026 Hearing on Motion to Compel Arbitration in Department 8C

Tentative Ruling

NOTICE:

Consistent with Local Rule 1.06(B), any party requesting oral argument on any matter on this calendar must comply with the following procedure:

To request limited oral argument, on any matter on this calendar, you must call the Department 8C Oral Argument Request Line at (916) 874-8380 by 4:00 p.m. the Court day before the hearing and advise opposing counsel. At the time of requesting oral argument, the requesting party shall leave a voice mail message: a) identifying themselves as the party requesting oral argument; b) indicating the specific matter/motion for which they are requesting oral argument; and c) confirming that it has notified the opposing party of its intention to appear and that opposing party may appear via Zoom using the Zoom link and Meeting ID indicated below. If no request for oral argument is made, the tentative ruling becomes the final order of the Court.

Unless ordered to appear in person by the Court, parties may appear remotely either telephonically or by video conference via the Zoom video/audio conference platform with notice to the Court and all other parties in accordance with Code of Civil Procedure §367.75. Although remote participation is not required, the Court will presume all parties are appearing remotely for non-evidentiary civil hearings.

Any hearing on this matter will be held by the Hon. Thadd A. Blizzard in Department 11B of the Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye Courthouse located at 500 G Street Sacramento, CA. The Zoom Link for Department 11B is https://saccourt-ca-gov.zoomgov.com/j/16090961628 and the Zoom Meeting ID is 160 9096 1628. To appear on Zoom telephonically, call (833) 568-8864 and enter the Zoom Meeting ID referenced above. NO COURTCALL APPEARANCES WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Although any hearing on this matter will be held in Department 11B, you must call the Department 8C Oral Argument Request Line provided above to request argument.

Parties requesting services of a court reporter will need to arrange for private court reporter services at their own expense, pursuant to Government code §68086 and California Rules of Court, Rule 2.956. Requirements for requesting a court reporter are listed on the Court Reporter Services webpage available on the Sacramento Superior Court website at https://saccourt.ca.gov/general-information/court-reporter-services-transcripts. Parties may contact Court- Approved Official Reporters Pro Tempore by utilizing the list of Court Approved Official Reporters Pro Tempore available at https://saccourt.ca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/227/639084034465370000.

26CV010745: STALLWORTH JR. vs STERICYCLE, INC., et al. 07/27/2026 Hearing on Motion to Compel Arbitration in Department 8C

A Stipulation and Appointment of Official Reporter Pro Tempore (CV/E-206) is required to be signed by each party, the private court reporter, and the Judge prior to the hearing, if not using a reporter from the Court’s Approved Official Reporter Pro Tempore list.

Once the form is signed it must be filed with the clerk. If a litigant has been granted a fee waiver and requests a court reporter, the party must submit a Request for Court Reporter by a Party with a Fee Waiver (CV/E-211) and it must be filed with the clerk at least 10 days prior to the hearing or at the time the proceeding is scheduled if less than 10 days away. Once approved, the clerk will forward the form to the Court Reporter’s Office and an official reporter will be provided.

TENTATIVE RULING

***NOTICE: THIS MATTER WILL BE HEARD IN DEPARTMENT 11B OF THE TANI G. CANTIL-SAKAUYE COURTHOUSE LOCATED AT 500 G STREET SACRAMENTO, CA. PARTIES APPEARING REMOTELY VIA ZOOM SHOULD ENSURE THAT THEY ARE USING THE CORRECT ZOOM LINK AND/OR ZOOM MEETING ID FOR DEPARTMENT 11B, WHICH ARE PROVIDED ABOVE.***

Defendant Stericycle, Inc.’s (“Stericycle”) motion to compel arbitration against Plaintiff Will Stallworth Jr. (“Plaintiff”) is UNOPPOSED and GRANTED.

The notice of motion does not provide notice of the Court’s tentative ruling system, as required by Local Rule 1.06. Moving counsel is directed to contact opposing counsel and advise of Local Rule 1.06 and the Court’s tentative ruling procedure and the manner to request a hearing. If moving counsel is unable to contact opposing counsel prior to the hearing, moving counsel is ordered to appear at the hearing by Zoom or in person.

Plaintiff filed this employment action on May 1, 2026 against Stericycle and Defendant Richard Gibson (“Gibson”), who is alleged to have been Plaintiff’s supervisor. Plaintiff’s Complaint includes 14 causes of action: (1) race discrimination; (2) disability discrimination; (3) retaliation; (4) harassment; (5) failure to prevent discrimination, harassment, and retaliation; (6) failure to provide reasonable accommodation; (7) failure to engage in interactive process; (8) CFRA/FMLA interference; (9) retaliation for exercising CFRA rights; (10) wrongful adverse employment action in violation of public policy; (11) intentional infliction of emotional distress; (12) negligent hiring, supervision, and retention; (13) disparate pay/failure to timely pay wages when due; and (14) unfair business practices. All causes of action are brought against all defendants.

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SACRAMENTO

26CV010745: STALLWORTH JR. vs STERICYCLE, INC., et al. 07/27/2026 Hearing on Motion to Compel Arbitration in Department 8C

Stericycle’s motion establishes that prior to the commencement of his employment, Plaintiff executed an Arbitration Agreement as part of his onboarding process. (Bertrand Decl., ¶ 6, Exh. B.) The Arbitration Agreement provides, in part:

Except as it otherwise provides, this Agreement applies to any dispute arising out of or related to Employee’s (sometimes also referred to as “you” or “your”) application or selection for employment, employment, or termination of employment with Stericycle, Inc. or one of its affiliates, subsidiaries or parent companies (“Company”). Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, this Agreement applies to any dispute, past, present, or future, that the Company may have against you or that you may have against (1) the Company; (2) its officers, directors, principals, shareholders, members, owners, employees, or agents; (3) the Company's benefit plans or the plan’s sponsors, fiduciaries, administrators, affiliates, or agents; and (4) all successors and assigns of any of them.

Each and all of the entities or individuals listed in (1) through (4) of the preceding sentence may enforce this Agreement. All disputes covered by this Agreement will be decided by a single arbitrator through final and binding arbitration and not by way of court or jury trial.

(Bertrand Decl., Exh. B, p. Stericycle 012.)

Regarding the types of claims covered, the Arbitration Agreement states:

Except as it otherwise provides, this Agreement is intended to apply to the resolution of disputes that otherwise would be resolved in court or before a forum other than arbitration, including without limitation, to disputes arising out of or relating to the application for employment, background checks, privacy, employment relationship, or the termination of that relationship (including post-employment defamation or retaliation), trade secrets, unfair competition, contracts (including without limitation the Employee Covenant Agreement), compensation, classification, minimum wage, expense reimbursement, overtime, breaks and rest periods, or retaliation. discrimination, or harassment and claims arising under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Defend Trade Secrets Act, Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §1981, Rehabilitation Act, Civil Rights Acts of 1866 and 1871, Civil Rights Act of 1991, 8 U.5.C. § 1324b (unfair immigration related practices), 41 U.S.C. § 4712, Pregnancy Discrimination Act, Equal Pay Act, Americans With Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, Occupational Safety and Health Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, Employee Retirement Income Security Act (except for claims for employee benefits under any benefit plan sponsored by the Company and covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or funded by insurance), Affordable Care Act, Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act, Uniformed Services

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SACRAMENTO

26CV010745: STALLWORTH JR. vs STERICYCLE, INC., et al. 07/27/2026 Hearing on Motion to Compel Arbitration in Department 8C

Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, the False Claims Act, and state statutes or regulations, if any, addressing the same or similar subject matters, and all other federal or state legal claims (including without limitation torts) arising out of or relating to your application, selection, employment, or the termination of employment.

(Bertrand Decl., Exh. B, p. Stericycle 012.)

Plaintiff signed the Arbitration Agreement on November 8, 2024. (Bertrand Decl., ¶ 6, Exh. B, p. Stericycle 016.)

“Under both federal and state law, the threshold question presented by a petition to compel arbitration is whether there is an agreement to arbitrate.” (Sparks v. Del Mar Child and Family Svcs. (2012) 207 Cal.App.4th 1511, 1517.) If the Court determines that an agreement to arbitrate exists, then it must order the case to arbitration unless grounds exist for revocation of the agreement. (Code Civ. Proc., § 1281.2; 9 U.S.C. § 2.)

Stericycle has established the existence of an agreement to arbitrate Plaintiff’s claims against it. (See Bertrand Decl., Exh. B.) Plaintiff has not filed an opposition and thus has not rebutted Stericycle’s showing or shown that grounds exist to render the Arbitration Agreement unenforceable.

Accordingly, Stericycle’s motion is GRANTED. Plaintiff’s claims against Stericycle are ordered to arbitration. However, this order to arbitration does not apply to Plaintiff’s claims against Gibson, as Gibson is not a party to this motion.

This case is STAYED in its entirety pending completion of the arbitration. The stay order applies to all claims against all defendants.

This minute order is effective immediately. No formal order or other notice is required. (Code Civ. Proc. § 1019.5; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1312.)