Cavlovic v. J.C. Penney Corporation , 884 F.3d 1051 ( 2018 )


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  •                                                                                  FILED
    United States Court of Appeals
    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                         Tenth Circuit
    FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT                           March 7, 2018
    _________________________________
    Elisabeth A. Shumaker
    Clerk of Court
    ANN CAVLOVIC,
    Plaintiff - Appellee,
    v.                                                         No. 17-3174
    (D.C. No. 2:17-CV-02042-JAR-TJJ)
    J.C. PENNEY CORPORATION, INC.,                               (D. Kan.)
    Defendant - Appellant.
    _________________________________
    ORDER AND JUDGMENT*
    _________________________________
    Before BRISCOE, KELLY, and BACHARACH, Circuit Judges.
    _________________________________
    Defendant-Appellant J.C. Penney Corporation, Inc. appeals the denial of its
    motion to compel arbitration. It filed the motion in the midst of a putative class
    action filed by lead Plaintiff-Appellee Ann Cavlovic, alleging that J.C. Penney used
    fraudulent advertising practices. The district court denied review of the magistrate
    judge’s order denying J.C. Penney’s motion to compel arbitration, agreeing that J.C.
    Penney was not a party to one of the two contracts at issue, and that Cavlovic’s
    *
    This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines
    of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for
    its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.
    allegations fall outside the scope of the other contract. Exercising jurisdiction under
    9 U.S.C. § 161 and 28 U.S.C. § 1292(a)(1), we AFFIRM.
    I
    A. Allegations set out in Cavlovic’s complaint
    On December 16, 2016, Cavlovic filed a class action complaint in Kansas state
    court, alleging J.C. Penney used a “False Former Price Advertising Scheme.” App.
    at 15. J.C. Penney allegedly “would mark up its private-branded and exclusive-
    branded apparel and accessories by a significant margin and then immediately offer
    those products at what it represented to be steep discounts.” 
    Id. Cavlovic sought
    to
    represent a group of more than 100 people who, between December 2013 and
    December 2016, “purchase[d] from [J.C. Penney] in Kansas one or more private
    and/or exclusive branded items at a discount of at least 30 [percent] off of the state[d]
    ‘original’ or ‘regular’ price, and who have not received a refund or credit for their
    purchase(s).” 
    Id. at 24.
    Cavlovic alleged she was part of this class because of a purchase she made on
    September 23, 2014. On that date, Cavlovic visited a J.C. Penney store in Kansas
    and purchased 14-carat gold hoop earrings for $171.66. The tag on the earrings
    1
    This statute states that “[a]n appeal may be taken from . . . an order
    . . . refusing a stay of any action under section 3 of this title . . . [or] denying a
    petition under section 4 of this title to order arbitration to proceed.” 9 U.S.C.
    § 16(a)(1)(A)–(B); see also Jacks v. CMH Homes, Inc., 
    856 F.3d 1301
    , 1304 (10th
    Cir. 2017) (“We have jurisdiction under the Federal Arbitration Act, which
    authorizes an interlocutory appeal of an order ‘refusing a stay of any action under
    section 3 of this title’ or ‘denying a petition under section 4 of this title to order
    arbitration to proceed.’” (quoting § 16(a)(1)(A)–(B))).
    2
    advertised that the previous price was $524.98, but that J.C. Penney was now selling
    the earrings for $209.99. J.C. Penney had an additional sale that day, so Cavlovic
    received an extra 25 percent off the already marked-down price.
    Cavlovic paid for the earrings with a credit card that had J.C. Penney’s logo on
    it. GE Money Bank first issued the card to Cavlovic in 2007, with Cavlovic signing a
    contract to accept the card’s terms, and the relationship continued in subsequent
    years between Cavlovic and the successors to GE Money Bank.2 In a separate
    contract—the 2014 Rewards Program agreement—J.C. Penney promised Cavlovic it
    would issue J.C. Penney Rewards Points for purchases at J.C. Penney using the J.C.
    Penney-branded card. For instance, Cavlovic earned 158 J.C. Penney Rewards Points
    for the earrings purchase.
    After Cavlovic returned home from the store, she inspected the earrings. For
    the first time, she noticed the original price tag of $225 on her earrings had been
    blacked out. After researching the matter, she believed she should have been charged
    $73.58, instead of $171.66 because her discount should have been pegged to the
    original price of $225, and not to the advertised inflated price of $524.98. And she
    believed the price discrepancy was the result of J.C. Penney’s False Former Price
    Advertising Scheme to fraudulently inflate prices.
    2
    GE Money Bank was the original party to the credit card agreement, and
    continued the relationship with Cavlovic until September 30, 2011. From October 1,
    2011, to June 2, 2014, GE Capital Retail Bank issued the card to Cavlovic. And from
    June 3, 2014, to the present Synchrony Bank has issued the card to Cavlovic.
    3
    In her complaint, she alleges J.C. Penney’s purported scheme caused her
    “emotional distress,” 
    id. at 22,
    and the scheme “continues” to the present day, 
    id. at 16.
    Given these factual allegations, Cavlovic—as lead plaintiff of the class—set out
    three remedies: (1) a finding that J.C. Penney violated the Kansas Consumer
    Protection Act, Kan. Stat. Ann. §§ 50-623 to 50-643; (2) injunctive and declaratory
    relief pursuant to the Kansas Consumer Protection Act; and (3) a finding of unjust
    enrichment.
    B. Procedural posture
    J.C. Penney removed the case to the United States District Court for the
    District of Kansas. It then moved to dismiss the case under Federal Rule of Civil
    Procedure 12(b)(6). A month later, though, J.C. Penney moved to stay the
    proceedings and compel arbitration based on two documents: (1) the 2008 credit card
    agreement between Cavlovic and GE Money Bank for the J.C. Penney-branded credit
    card; and (2) the 2014 Rewards Program agreement between Cavlovic and J.C.
    Penney.
    The 2008 credit card agreement included the following arbitration provision:
    [A]ny past, present or future legal dispute or claim of any
    kind, including statutory and common law claims and
    claims for equitable relief, that relates in any way to your
    account, card or the relationships that arise from your
    account, this agreement or any prior agreement or account,
    including the enforceability or scope of this provision or
    disputes or claims that arose before this provisionʼs
    4
    effective date, (“claim”) will be resolved by binding
    arbitration if you, we[3] or [J.C. Penney] elects to arbitrate.
    App. at 57 (capitalization removed; emphases added).
    And the 2014 Rewards Program agreement stated:
    This Agreement will be governed by and construed under
    the substantive laws of the State of Texas, without
    reference to conflict-of-laws considerations.            [J.C.
    Penney] and [Cavlovic] each agree that any dispute,
    claim, or controversy (“Claim”) arising from or
    relating to this Agreement or [Cavlovic’s] [J.C. Penney]
    Rewards Membership will be resolved by binding
    arbitration conducted in the State of Texas (Collin
    County). [J.C. Penney] and [Cavlovic] each acknowledge
    and agree that each has chosen arbitration rather than
    litigation to resolve any such dispute, claim, or
    controversy.      [J.C. Penney] and [Cavlovic] each
    understand that a judgment on any arbitral award may be
    entered in any court having jurisdiction. [Cavlovic] will
    not have the right to participate in a representative capacity
    or as a member of any class of claimants pertaining to any
    Claim subject to arbitration. There shall be no right or
    authority for any Claims to be arbitrated on a class action
    basis or on any basis involving Claims brought in a
    purported representative capacity on behalf of the general
    public or other persons or entities similarly situated.
    
    Id. at 73
    (emphasis added).
    After the magistrate judge stayed the proceedings, Cavlovic responded to the
    motion to compel. As to the 2008 credit card agreement, Cavlovic argued both that
    her complaint was outside the scope of that agreement’s arbitration clause, and that
    3
    Elsewhere, the agreement stated, “As used in this provision: ‘We,’ ‘Us,’ and
    ‘Our’ mean (1) GE Money Bank and all of its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates,
    predecessors, successors, assigns, employees, officers and directors (collectively, the
    ‘Bank’), and (2) J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc. and all of its parents, subsidiaries,
    affiliates, predecessors, successors, assigns, employees, officers and directors.” App.
    at 57.
    5
    her agreement was with GE Money Bank (and its successors), not with J.C. Penney.
    In making these arguments about the J.C. Penney-branded credit card, Cavlovic
    pointed to the 2016 and 2017 versions of Synchrony Bank’s J.C. Penney-branded
    credit card terms and conditions, and argued that a subsequent contract with terms
    like the 2016 and 2017 contracts likely superseded the 2008 agreement that J.C.
    Penney relies on. Nonetheless, in reply to Cavlovic’s arguments about the 2016 and
    2017 versions of the J.C. Penney-branded card agreement, J.C. Penney renewed its
    arguments that any contract other than the 2008 credit card agreement was irrelevant.
    And as to the J.C. Penney Rewards Program, Cavlovic argued her complaint’s
    allegations about fraudulent advertising fall outside the scope of the arbitration
    clause in the 2014 Rewards Program agreement.
    Despite J.C. Penney’s argument that subsequent versions of the J.C. Penney-
    branded card agreement after 2008 were irrelevant, the magistrate judge set a date to
    “hear testimony concerning whether any Change in Terms notices and/or amended
    credit card agreements were sent to Plaintiff other than” the 2008 credit card
    agreement. 
    Id. at 7.
    Before that hearing, though, J.C. Penney came forward with
    new evidence. In an affidavit, a representative for the successor to GE Money Bank
    stated she now believed a 2012 credit card agreement applied—not the 2008 credit
    card agreement J.C. Penney had previously relied upon. 
    Id. at 137–39.
    That 2012 credit card agreement had the following critical provision:
    6
    If either you or we[4] make a demand for arbitration, you
    and we must arbitrate any dispute or claim between you or
    any other user of your account, and us, our affiliates,
    agents and/or J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc. if it relates to
    your account, except as noted below. . . .
    We will not require you to arbitrate: (1) any individual
    case in small claims court or your state’s equivalent court,
    so long as it remains an individual case in that court; or
    (2) a case we file to collect money you owe us.
    
    Id. at 146
    (emphasis added).
    The magistrate judge then ruled on the motion to compel arbitration. She first
    concluded the 2012 credit card agreement controls the litigation, and that it is “identical
    in all respects relevant” to the 2016 credit card agreement. 
    Id. at 163.
    Because J.C.
    Penney had an opportunity to address why the 2016 credit card agreement compelled
    arbitration, the magistrate judge believed she could rule on the motion to compel
    arbitration, even though the parties had not had a full opportunity to address the 2012
    agreement.
    On the merits of the claims regarding the 2012 credit card agreement, the
    magistrate judge concluded: (1) the 2012 credit card agreement was narrower in scope
    than the 2008 credit card agreement; (2) the allegations in Cavlovic’s complaint fell
    outside the scope of the 2012 credit card agreement; and (3) the 2012 credit card
    agreement did not provide J.C. Penney with the ability to enforce its arbitration
    provision. Further, the magistrate judge held the allegations in Cavlovic’s complaint
    were outside the scope of the 2014 Rewards Program agreement because Cavlovic’s
    4
    A separate provision in the contract stated, “GE Capital Retail Bank may be
    referred to as ‘we’, ‘us’ or ‘our’.” App. at 146.
    7
    “claims are based upon [J.C. Penney’s] allegedly deceptive and fraudulent pricing and
    discounts, not upon breach of the terms of the rewards program or upon [Cavlovic’s]
    membership in the program.” 
    Id. at 168.
    After J.C. Penney objected under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 72(a), the
    district court concluded that (1) J.C. Penney “waived the ability to raise new arguments
    about the appropriate interpretation of the 2012 Agreement” and the 2014 Rewards
    Program agreement, including any argument about the term “relates” or “relating,” 
    id. at 210,
    212–13; (2) the magistrate judge did not clearly err by looking to the 2008
    agreement to aid in interpreting the 2012 agreement, in part because the 2008 agreement
    was not parol evidence under Utah law; and (3) the magistrate judge did not clearly err in
    holding that Cavlovic’s claims of deceptive advertising fell outside the scope of both the
    2012 credit card agreement and the 2014 Rewards Program agreement.
    II
    In this appeal, we must decide whether the district court correctly concluded that
    J.C. Penney could not compel arbitration under either the 2012 credit card agreement5 or
    the 2014 Rewards Program agreement. We review a district court’s denial of a motion to
    compel arbitration de novo. Ragab v. Howard, 
    841 F.3d 1134
    , 1136 (10th Cir. 2016).
    To the extent this case involves reviewing factual findings about whether J.C. Penney
    waived its right to compel arbitration, this court reviews the district court’s waiver
    determination de novo, In re Cox Enterprises, Inc. Set-top Cable Television Box Antitrust
    5
    The parties acknowledge the 2012 version is the controlling credit card
    agreement in this case.
    8
    Litigation, 
    790 F.3d 1112
    , 1115–16 (10th Cir. 2015), but reviews any factual findings
    about waiver for clear error, BOSC, Inc. v. Board of County Commissioners, 
    853 F.3d 1165
    , 1169 (10th Cir. 2017).
    In analyzing whether J.C. Penney could compel arbitration under either the 2012
    credit card agreement or the 2014 Rewards Program agreement, we proceed through two
    analytical steps. First, for each contract, we determine whether there was an agreement,
    and whether the agreement provided the moving entity—here, J.C. Penney—with the
    right to compel arbitration. Jacks v. CMH Homes, Inc., 
    856 F.3d 1301
    , 1304 (10th Cir.
    2017). Second, if the parties had an agreement that provided the moving party with the
    right to compel arbitration, then we must analyze whether the facts at issue—i.e., the
    allegations in the complaint—are within the scope of the arbitration agreement. See
    Dumais v. Am. Golf Corp., 
    299 F.3d 1216
    , 1219−20 (10th Cir. 2002) (stating “the
    existence of a valid arbitration agreement and the interpretation of a valid arbitration
    agreement’s scope” are “two separate inquiries”).
    We analyze both the 2012 credit card agreement and the 2014 Rewards
    Program agreement within this framework, and conclude that J.C. Penney could not
    compel arbitration under either contract.
    A. J.C. Penney lacked the power to compel arbitration under the 2012 credit
    card agreement
    We begin our inquiry into whether J.C. Penney could force arbitration under
    the 2012 credit card agreement by analyzing whether J.C. Penney had a right to
    enforce the provisions of that agreement. See 
    Jacks, 856 F.3d at 1304
    ; Cade v. Zions
    9
    First Nat’l Bank, 
    956 P.2d 1073
    , 1076–77 (Utah Ct. App. 1998) (holding “a party
    cannot be required to submit to arbitration any dispute which he has not agreed so to
    submit” (quoting AT&T Tech., Inc. v. Communications Workers, 
    475 U.S. 643
    , 648
    (1986)). We apply Utah law as the 2012 credit card agreement had a Utah choice of
    law clause. Upon analyzing the contract, we conclude J.C. Penney had no such right
    of enforcement under the 2012 credit card agreement.
    It is undisputed that J.C. Penney was not a party to that agreement. The
    contract was only between Cavlovic and GE Capital Retail Bank. Further, the 2012
    credit card agreement reads:
    If either you or we make a demand for arbitration, you
    and we must arbitrate any dispute or claim between you or
    any other user of your account, and us, our affiliates,
    agents and/or J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc. if it relates to
    your account, except as noted below. . . .
    App. at 146 (emphasis added). A plain reading of this provision leads us to conclude
    that arbitration is required if either “you” (Cavlovic) or “we” (GE Capital Retail
    Bank) demand arbitration. 
    Id. Here, neither
    Cavlovic nor GE Capital Retail Bank—
    nor its successor, Synchrony Bank—demanded arbitration. Only J.C. Penney
    demanded arbitration. And the contract, on its face, does not provide for such a third
    party demand.
    J.C. Penney argues the Supreme Court has noted a third party can theoretically
    enforce an arbitration provision if “a written arbitration provision is made
    enforceable against (or for the benefit of) a third party under state contract law.”
    10
    Arthur Andersen LLP v. Carlisle, 
    556 U.S. 624
    , 631 (2009). We therefore must turn
    to Utah law.
    Under Utah law, “only parties to the contract may enforce the rights and
    obligations created by the contract.” Fericks v. Lucy Ann Soffe Tr., 
    100 P.3d 1200
    ,
    1205–06 (Utah 2004) (quoting Wagner v. Clifton, 
    62 P.3d 440
    , 442 (Utah 2002)). In
    rare circumstances, a third party can also enforce the contract, but “only if the parties
    to the contract clearly express an intention ‘to confer a separate and distinct benefit’
    on the third party.” Bybee v. Abdulla, 
    189 P.3d 40
    , 49 (Utah 2008) (quoting Rio
    Algom Corp. v. Jimco Ltd., 
    618 P.2d 497
    , 506 (Utah 1980)); see also Hermansen v.
    Tasulis, 
    48 P.3d 235
    , 239 (Utah 2002) (a third party may enforce a contract provision
    only if “contracting parties clearly intended” to allow the third party to exercise
    rights under the contract (quoting Oxendine v. Overturf, 
    973 P.2d 417
    , 421 (Utah
    1999)). But under no circumstances can a party “change or rewrite” the terms of an
    agreement to broaden the plain language—even in the face of the policy favoring
    arbitration. Zions Mgmt. Servs. v. Record, 
    305 P.3d 1062
    , 1071 (Utah 2013) (quoting
    Ivory Homes, Ltd. v. Utah State Tax Comm’n, 
    266 P.3d 751
    , 755 (Utah 2011)).
    Here, the agreement between Cavlovic and GE Capital Money Bank does not
    evidence a clear intent to provide J.C. Penney—a third party—with the right to
    demand arbitration under the 2012 credit card agreement. Rather, the intent of the
    parties is clear from their agreement—only “you” (Cavlovic) or “we” (GE Capital
    Retail Bank) can demand arbitration of the other. App. at 146. Since there is no
    indication the parties intended to give J.C. Penney or any other third party the right to
    11
    demand arbitration, J.C. Penney cannot invoke the arbitration clause of the 2012
    credit card agreement. The district court did not err in coming to this same
    conclusion.
    B. 2014 Rewards Program Agreement
    Unlike the credit card agreement, there is no dispute that J.C. Penney was a
    party to the 2014 Rewards Program agreement, and has the power to enforce all of its
    provisions. There is, however, a dispute regarding venue, and whether Cavlovic’s
    allegations are within the scope of the 2014 Rewards Program agreement’s
    arbitration clause. We conclude J.C. Penney waived any argument regarding venue,
    and that Cavlovic’s allegations are outside the scope of the 2014 Rewards Program
    agreement.
    1. J.C. Penney waived any objection to having the District of Kansas
    decide whether to compel arbitration under the 2014 Rewards
    Program agreement
    Before we address the merits of J.C. Penney’s arguments regarding whether it
    could compel arbitration under the 2014 Rewards Program agreement, we must
    determine whether the District of Kansas was the proper venue for resolving the
    issue. The 2014 Rewards Program agreement stated that any arbitration must take
    place in Collin County, Texas. Further, J.C. Penney cites to 9 U.S.C. § 4, which
    states:
    A party aggrieved by the alleged failure, neglect, or refusal
    of another to arbitrate under a written agreement for
    arbitration may petition any United States district court
    which, save for such agreement, would have
    jurisdiction under title 28, in a civil action . . . of the
    12
    subject matter of a suit arising out of the controversy
    between the parties, for an order directing that such
    arbitration proceed in the manner provided for in such
    agreement. . . . The court shall hear the parties, and upon
    being satisfied that the making of the agreement for
    arbitration or the failure to comply therewith is not in
    issue, the court shall make an order directing the parties to
    proceed to arbitration in accordance with the terms of the
    agreement. The hearing and proceedings, under such
    agreement, shall be within the district in which the
    petition for an order directing such arbitration is filed.
    9 U.S.C. § 4 (emphasis added).
    In Ansari v. Qwest Communications Corp., 
    414 F.3d 1214
    (10th Cir. 2005), we
    interpreted § 4 and held “a district court lacks authority to compel arbitration in other
    districts, or in its own district if another has been specified,” 
    id. at 1220
    (quotation
    omitted). We further concluded that “[a]ny other result renders meaningless the § 4
    mandate that arbitration and the order compelling arbitration issue from the same
    district.” 
    Id. Yet, in
    1mage Software, Inc. v. Reynolds & Reynolds Co., 
    459 F.3d 1044
    (10th
    Cir. 2006), we held that the rule announced in Ansari is not jurisdictional but “one of
    venue which the parties . . . waived by not raising the issue before the district court,”
    
    id. at 1051–52;
    see also Sanchez v. Nitro-Lift Techs., L.L.C., 
    762 F.3d 1139
    , 1151–52
    (10th Cir. 2014) (applying 1mage Software). That is, we concluded “Ansari’s
    holding that a district court does not have authority to compel arbitration in another
    district is a statement addressing venue under the” Federal Arbitration Act, and
    parties to litigation can “waive[] any objection to venue [if] they fail[] to raise the
    issue in the district court.” 1mage 
    Software, 459 F.3d at 1055
    .
    13
    Here, J.C. Penney “disclaimed the forum/venue provisions of its agreement
    [when it] moved the [District of Kansas] to order arbitration.” 
    Sanchez, 762 F.3d at 1152
    . The United States District Court for the District of Kansas therefore had
    authority to address whether J.C. Penney could compel arbitration under the 2014
    Rewards Program agreement.
    2. Cavlovic’s complaint is outside the scope of the 2014 Rewards
    Program agreement
    Having established that the district court had authority to address the 2014
    Rewards Program agreement and given that the parties agree J.C. Penney had the
    power to compel arbitration under the agreement, we next consider whether the
    district court correctly determined that Cavlovic’s complaint fell outside the scope of
    the 2014 Rewards Program agreement. We agree with the district court’s conclusion.
    The 2014 Rewards Program agreement covers all claims “arising from or
    relating to” the Rewards Program. App. at 73. Under the Federal Arbitration Act,
    we first consider whether this phrase is broad or narrow. Addressing this exact
    language, this court previously held “arising out of or relating to” is “broad”
    language. Chelsea Family Pharmacy, PLLC v. Medco Health Sols., Inc., 
    567 F.3d 1191
    , 1199 (10th Cir. 2009); P&P Indus., Inc. v. Sutter Corp., 
    179 F.3d 861
    , 871
    (10th Cir. 1999). This creates a presumption in favor of arbitrability. 
    Sanchez, 762 F.3d at 1148
    .
    J.C. Penney would have us end our inquiry there, and hold that because the
    relevant contractual language is broad, any allegation by Cavlovic against J.C.
    14
    Penney that even tangentially involves the 2014 Rewards Program agreement must be
    subject to arbitration. But, because the 2014 Rewards Program agreement had a
    Texas choice of law clause, we must also consult Texas law. And under Texas law,
    our inquiry continues beyond an initial determination that the arbitration provision is
    broad. See BBVA Compass Inv. Sols., Inc. v. Brooks, 
    456 S.W.3d 711
    , 718 (Tex.
    App. 2015) (holding that “[w]hether a claim is subject to arbitration turns on its
    substance”). Though the presumption of arbitrability is a guide, we still must look at
    the parties’ intent. See Forbau v. Aetna Life Ins. Co., 
    876 S.W.2d 132
    , 133 (Tex.
    1994) (“When construing a contract, the court’s primary concern is to give effect to
    the written expression of the parties’ intent.”); IHS Acquisition No. 171, Inc. v.
    Beatty-Ortiz, 
    387 S.W.3d 799
    , 806 (Tex. App. 2012) (a determination of whether a
    party can compel arbitration “requires courts to honor parties’ expectations”).
    And, applying a “plain grammatical meaning” of the contract to the facts of
    this case, BBVA 
    Compass, 456 S.W.3d at 719
    , it appears the parties did not intend to
    have facts like those alleged in Cavlovic’s complaint to fall within the 2014 Rewards
    Program agreement’s arbitration provision. In “plain language,” IHS 
    Acquisition, 387 S.W.3d at 809
    , Cavlovic and J.C. Penney agreed to arbitrate disputes that “aris[e]
    from or relat[e] to” the Rewards Program. App. at 73. One can imagine many
    matters that would fall within that category. For instance, the parties likely agreed to
    arbitrate a disagreement about whether Cavlovic was receiving an adequate number
    of Rewards Points, or whether J.C. Penney was giving Cavlovic the proper amount of
    store credit for her Rewards Points.
    15
    Yet, a plain reading of the arbitration provision does not support the
    conclusion that Cavlovic and J.C. Penney also agreed to arbitrate disputes about
    purchases Cavlovic made at J.C. Penney on which she happened to earn J.C. Penney
    Rewards Points. The complaint’s allegations of fraudulent advertising do not “aris[e]
    from,” App. at 73, the Rewards Program or the amount of Rewards Points Cavlovic
    received for purchases. The complaint’s allegations arise from J.C. Penney’s alleged
    practice of falsely inflating their original prices, only to subsequently mark the prices
    back down to leave an impression of a deep discount.
    J.C. Penney argues Cavlovic’s purchase of the earrings was “relat[ed] to” the
    Rewards Program, App. at 73, in that after Cavlovic purchased the earrings, J.C.
    Penney awarded her 158 Rewards Points. But, as a Texas appellate court determined
    in declining to compel arbitration, it is difficult to “see that this is a claim ‘arising out
    of or relating to’ the contract” because even if the parties “honored their contractual
    obligations in every respect” under the Rewards Program agreement, the contractual
    compliance would not affect Cavlovic’s allegations. Fridl v. Cook, 
    908 S.W.2d 507
    ,
    513 (Tex. App. 1995). In other words, “with respect to the alleged wrong, it is
    simply fortuitous that the parties happened to have a contractual relationship.” Coors
    Brewing Co. v. Molson Breweries, 
    51 F.3d 1511
    , 1516 (10th Cir. 1995) (holding that
    antitrust claims were outside the scope of an arbitration clause in a licensing
    agreement).
    16
    Therefore, the mere existence of the Rewards Program agreement is not itself
    sufficient to conclude that Cavlovic’s allegations of deceptive advertising arise from
    or relate to that contract. We conclude the district court did not err.
    III
    We AFFIRM the district court.
    Entered for the Court
    Mary Beck Briscoe
    Circuit Judge
    17