MOLECULAR ANALYTICAL SYSTEMS v. CIPHERGEN BIOSYSTEMS, INC Part-I
<script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript"> _uacct = "UA-1698443-1"; urchinTracker(); </script> <html ><br /> <head><br /> <title>MOLECULAR ANALYTICAL SYSTEMS v</title><br /> </head><br /> <body><br /> <div><br /> <br/><b >MOLECULAR ANALYTICAL SYSTEMS v.<br /> CIPHERGEN BIOSYSTEMS, INC</b><br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/>Filed 7/9/10<br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/>CERTIFIED<br /> FOR PUBLICATION<br /> <br/> <br /> <br/>IN<br /> THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA<br /> <br/> <br /> <br/>SIXTH<br /> APPELLATE DISTRICT<br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0<br /> ><br /> <tr ><br /> <td width=319 valign=top ><br /> <br/>MOLECULAR ANALYTICAL SYSTEMS, <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/>Plaintiff and<br /> Respondent,<br /> <br/> <br /> <br/>v.<br /> <br/> <br /> <br/>CIPHERGEN BIOSYSTEMS, INC. et<br /> al.,<br /> <br/> <br /> <br/>Defendants and<br /> Appellants.<br /> <br/> <br /> </td><br /> <td width=319 valign=top ><br /> <br/> H032845<br /> <br/> (Santa Clara<br /> County<br /> <br/> Super. Ct.<br /> No. CV89501)<br /> <br/> <br /> </td><br /> </tr><br /> </table><br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> This is an<br /> appeal from an order denying the defendants' motion to compel arbitration. Applying the law to the undisputed facts and<br /> exercising our independent judgment, we reverse the trial court's ruling. As we explain below, the plaintiff cannot<br /> avoid arbitrating its claims against the signatory defendant, because those<br /> claims are within the reach of the arbitration<br /> clause. And the plaintiff cannot<br /> avoid arbitrating its claims against the nonsignatory defendant, because those<br /> claims are inextricably bound up with the obligations arising out of the<br /> agreement containing the arbitration clause. <br /> <br /> <h1>BACKGROUND</h1><br /> <br/> The parties<br /> to this action are Molecular Analytic Systems (plaintiff or MAS) and Ciphergen<br /> Biosystems, Inc. and Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (defendants). <br /> <h3>The Contracts</h3><br /> <br/> Plaintiff<br /> is in a contractual relationship with defendant Ciphergen, arising from various<br /> contracts, including two that are at issue here: a License Agreement and a Settlement<br /> Agreement, both executed in 2003 following settlement of prior litigation.<br /> Plaintiff has no express contractual relationship with defendant Bio-Rad. <br /> <br/> Both of the<br /> agreements at issue here contain arbitration<br /> provisions. Section 13.1 of the<br /> Settlement Agreement requires arbitration of â€