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`LATHAM & WATKINS LLP
`Elizabeth Deeley (SBN 230798)
`Montgomery Street, Suite 2000
`San Francisco, CA 941111-6538
`Tel: 415.391.0600 / Fax: 415.395.8095
`Email: elizabeth.deeley@lw.com
`Colleen C. Smith (SBN 231216)
`12670 High Bluff Drive
`San Diego, California 92130
`Tel: 858.523.5400 / Fax: 858.523.5450
`Email: colleen.smith@lw.com
`
`LATHAM & WATKINS LLP
`Roman Martinez
`(Admitted Pro Hac Vice)
`Daniel Meron
`(Admitted Pro Hac Vice)
`Charles S. Dameron
`(Admitted Pro Hac Vice)
`Peter E. Davis (SBN 320256)
`555 Eleventh Street, NW, Suite 1000
`Washington, D.C. 20004-1304
`Tel: 202.637.2200 / Fax: 202.637.2200
`Email: roman.martinez@lw.com
`Email: daniel.meron@lw.com
`Email: charles.dameron@lw.com
`Email: peter.davis@lw.com
`
`Counsel for Defendant,
`AMAZON.COM, INC.
`
`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
` CASE NO. 3:21-cv-01833-BTM-MDD
` JONATHAN CORRELL, on behalf of
`himself and all others similarly
`situated,
`
`Plaintiffs,
`
`v.
`AMAZON.COM, INC., and DOES 1-
`10
`
`Defendants.
`
`MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND
`AUTHORITIES IN SUPPORT OF
`MOTION TO DISMISS PLAINTIFF’S
`COMPLAINT PURSUANT TO
`FEDERAL RULES OF CIVIL
`PROCEDURE 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6)
`[FRCP 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6)]
`SPECIAL BRIEFING SCHEDULE
`ORDERED
`PER CHAMBERS, NO ORAL
`ARGUMENT UNLESS REQUESTED
`BY THE COURT
`Hearing Date: June 3, 2022
`Time: 11:00 a.m.
`Judge: Hon. Barry Ted Moskowitz
`Courtroom: 15B
`
`CASE NUMBER: 3:21-cv-01833-BTM-MDD
`MEMORANDUM OF POINTS & AUTHORITIES
`IN SUPPORT OF MOTION TO DISMISS
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`Page
`INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1
`BACKGROUND ...................................................................................................... 2
`ARGUMENT ............................................................................................................ 6
`A.
`Correll Lacks Article III Standing ....................................................... 6
`B.
`Correll Has Failed To State A Claim Under The Unruh
`Act ...................................................................................................... 10
`1.
`The Unruh Act Prohibits Only Arbitrary And
`Invidious Acts Of Discrimination ........................................... 11
`State And Federal Public Policy Strongly
`Encourages Companies To Promote Diversity ....................... 13
`Amazon’s Efforts To Foster Diversity Are
`Consistent With Established Public Policy ............................. 19
`CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................... ..24
`
`2.
`
`3.
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
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`
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`TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
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` Page(s)
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`CASES
`
`Allen v. Wright,
`468 U.S. 737 (1984) ............................................................................................. 7
`Am. Legion v. Am. Humanist Ass’n,
`139 S. Ct. 2067 (2019) ................................................................................... 7, 10
`Angelucci v. Century Supper Club,
`158 P.3d 718 (Cal. 2007) ................................................................................ 2, 11
`Ashcroft v. Iqbal,
`556 U.S. 662 (2009) ............................................................................................. 6
`Bras v. Cal. Pub. Utils. Comm’n,
`59 F.3d 869 (9th Cir. 1995) .................................................................................. 9
`Braunstein v. Az. Dept. of Transp.,
`683 F.3d 1177 (9th Cir. 2012) .......................................................................... 7, 9
`Burks v. Poppy Constr. Co.,
`370 P.2d 313 (Cal. 1962) .................................................................................... 11
`Carroll v. Nakatani,
`342 F.3d 934 (9th Cir. 2003) .............................................................. 1, 7, 8, 9, 10
`Diamond v. Charles,
`476 U.S. 54 (1986) ......................................................................................... 7, 10
`DynaLantic Corp. v. U.S. Dep’t of Def.,
`885 F. Supp. 2d 237 (D.D.C. 2012) ................................................................... 17
`Georges v. Bank of Am., N.A.,
`No. 19-02329, 2020 WL 3628657 (C.D. Cal. Apr. 9, 2020) ............................. 12
`Gratz v. Bollinger,
`539 U.S. 244 (2003) ............................................................................................. 8
`Gurrola v. Duncan,
`519 F. Supp. 3d 732 (E.D. Cal. 2021) .................................................................. 9
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`Hecox v. Little,
`479 F. Supp. 3d 930 (D. Idaho 2020) ................................................................... 9
`Howe v. Bank of Am., N.A.,
`179 Cal. App. 4th 1443 (2009) ........................................................................... 12
`Koire v. Metro Car Wash,
`707 P.2d 195 (Cal. 1985) ............................................................ 11, 13, 20, 21, 22
`Marina Point, Ltd. v. Wolfson,
`640 P.2d 115 (Cal. 1982) .................................................................. 11, 12, 13, 21
`Ne. Fla. Chapter of Associated Gen. Contractors of Am. v. City of Jacksonville,
`508 U.S. 656 (1993) ......................................................................................... 8, 9
`Rothe Dev., Inc. v. Dep’t of Def.,
`107 F. Supp. 3d 183 (D.D.C. 2015) ................................................................... 17
`Sargoy v. Resolution Trust Corp.,
`8 Cal. App. 4th 1039 (1992) ......................................................................... 11, 12
`Spokeo, Inc. v. Robins,
`578 U.S. 330 (2016) ......................................................................................... 6, 8
`TransUnion LLC v. Ramirez,
`141 S. Ct. 2190 (2021) ..................................................................................... 7, 8
`Whitaker v. Tesla Motors, Inc.,
`985 F.3d 1173 (9th Cir. 2021) .............................................................................. 4
`STATUTES
`12 U.S.C.§ 1701q ..................................................................................................... 12
`12 U.S.C. § 5708(e)(1) ............................................................................................ 18
`12 U.S.C. § 5708(e)(2) ............................................................................................ 18
`15 U.S.C. § 631(f)(1)(A) ............................................................................... 2, 17, 21
`15 U.S.C. § 631(f)(1)(B) ......................................................................................... 17
`15 U.S.C. § 631(f)(1)(C) ......................................................................................... 17
`15 U.S.C. § 631(f)(1)(D) ......................................................................................... 17
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`15 U.S.C. § 637 .................................................................................................... 3, 17
`15 U.S.C. § 637(a)(1)(B) ......................................................................................... 17
`15 U.S.C. § 637(a)(1)(C) ................................................................................... 17, 22
`15 U.S.C. § 637(a)(5) .............................................................................................. 17
`15 U.S.C. § 637(d) ................................................................................................... 20
`15 U.S.C. § 637(d)(1) .............................................................................................. 18
`15 U.S.C. § 637(d)(3)(B) ......................................................................................... 18
`15 U.S.C. § 637(d)(3)(C) ................................................................................... 17, 18
`15 U.S.C. § 637(d)(4)(D) ......................................................................................... 19
`15 U.S.C. § 637(d)(4)(E) ................................................................................... 19, 21
`15 U.S.C. § 9007 ........................................................................................................ 3
`15 U.S.C. § 9007(a)(3) ............................................................................................ 17
`15 U.S.C. § 9007(a)(4) ............................................................................................ 18
`15 U.S.C. § 9007(b)(1) ................................................................................ 17, 21, 22
`42 U.S.C. § 1485 ...................................................................................................... 12
`Cal. Civ. Code §§ 51, 51.5 (Unruh Civil Rights Act) ...................................... passim
`Cal. Civil Code § 51(b) ............................................................................................ 11
`Cal. Corp. Code § 318(a) ......................................................................................... 16
`Cal. Educ. Code § 71028 ......................................................................................... 15
`Cal. Food & Agric. Code § 65015 ........................................................................... 16
`Cal. Gov’t Code § 7401(b) ................................................................................ 15, 21
`Cal. Gov’t Code § 12100.61(a) ............................................................................... 15
`Cal. Gov’t Code § 12100.61(b) ............................................................................... 18
`Cal. Gov’t Code § 12100.63(c) ............................................................................... 15
`CASE NUMBER: 3:21-cv-01833-BTM-MDD
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`MEMORANDUM OF POINTS & AUTHORITIES
`IN SUPPORT OF MOTION TO DISMISS
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`Cal. Gov’t Code § 12100.63(f) .......................................................................... 16, 22
`Cal. Gov’t Code § 12100.63(h)(2) ..................................................................... 16, 22
`Cal. Gov’t Code § 14110.1 ...................................................................................... 16
`Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1339.85(a) ................................................................. 14
`Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1339.85(b) ................................................ 2, 14, 15, 23
`Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1339.87(a)(1) ............................................................ 14
`Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1339.87(a)(2)(A) ...................................................... 14
`Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1339.87(a)(2)(B) ................................................... 2, 14
`Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1339.87(a)(2)(C) ....................................................... 14
`Cal. Health & Safety Code § 51230 ........................................................................ 12
`Cal. Ins. Code § 927(f) .............................................................................................. 3
`Cal. Ins. Code § 927.2 ............................................................................................. 15
`Cal. Ins. Code § 927.2(a)(2)(B) ................................................................................. 2
`Cal. Ins. Code § 927.2(e) ......................................................................................... 23
`Cal. Pub. Cont. Code § 2000(a)(1) .......................................................................... 16
`Cal. Pub. Res. Code § 25230(b)(2) .......................................................................... 15
`Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 8281(a) ...................................................................... 2, 13, 21
`Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 8283(a) ................................................................................ 13
`Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 8283(b) .......................................................................... 13, 20
`Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 8283(e)(1) ............................................................................ 13
`Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 8283(e)(2) ............................................................................ 13
`Cal. Rev. & Tax Code § 17053.98(k)(2)(B)(iv) ...................................................... 16
`Cal. Water Code Appendix § 133-419 .................................................................... 15
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`California Small Business Development Technical Assistance Expansion Act of
`2018 .................................................................................................................... 15
`Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, §
`342(b)(2)(B), Pub. L. No. 111-203, § 342(b)(2)(B), 124 Stat. 1541 (codified at
`12 U.S.C. § 5452(b)(2)(B)) ................................................................................ 19
`Small Business Act, Pub. L. No. 95-507, 92 Stat. 1760 (1978) .................. 16, 17, 18
`OTHER AUTHORITIES
`Alexis Bateman et al., Why You Need A Supplier-Diversity Program, Harv. Bus.
`Rev. (Aug. 17, 2020), https://hbr.org/2020/08/why-you-need-a-supplier-
`diversity-program ................................................................................................. 3
`Amazon, Black Business Accelerator, https://sell.amazon.com/programs/black-
`business-accelerator (last accessed Feb. 7, 2022) .............................................. 21
`Amazon, Certification Types And Issuing Agencies, https://m.media-
`amazon.com/images/G/01/Amazon_Business_Help/Certification_types_and_ag
`encies.docx (last visited Feb. 7, 2022) ............................................................... 20
`Amazon, Seller Certification Program,
`https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201715970
`(last visited Feb. 7, 2022) ................................................................................... 20
`Apple, Apple Selects 15 Black- and Brown-Owned Businesses For First-Of-Its-
`Kind Impact Accelerator (Aug. 17, 2021), https://apple.co/3AFPogP ................ 5
`Apple, Apple and Procurement, https://apple.co/3oacJSA (last visited Feb. 7,
`2022) ..................................................................................................................... 3
`California Office of the Small Business Advocate, CalOSBA Announces Grants to
`Expand Small Business Assistance in California (Oct. 27, 2021),
`https://business.ca.gov/calosba-announces-grants-to-expand-small-business-
`assistance-in-california/ ...................................................................................... 22
`Chevron, Supplier Diversity, https://www.chevron.com/operations/supplier-
`diversity (last visited Feb. 7, 2022) ...................................................................... 3
`California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), The Supplier Clearinghouse
`Certified Directory,
`https://sch.thesupplierclearinghouse.com/FrontEnd/searchcertifieddirectory.asp
`?TN=sch (last visited Feb. 7, 2022) ............................................................. 14, 20
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`CPUC, Supplier Clearinghouse, https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/about-
`cpuc/divisions/news-and-public-information-office/business-and-community-
`outreach/utility-supplier-diversity-program/clearinghouse (last visited Feb. 7,
`2022) ................................................................................................................... 14
`CPUC, Utility Supplier Diversity Program, https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/about-
`cpuc/divisions/news-and-public-information-office/business-and-community-
`outreach/utility-supplier-diversity-program (last visited Feb. 7, 2022) ............. 14
`Downtown Long Beach Alliance, Women-Owned Business Accelerator Grant,
`https://downtownlongbeach.org/invest/grants/woman-owned-business-
`accelerator-grant/ (last visited Feb. 7, 2022) ........................................................ 5
`FDIC, Diversity and Inclusion, https://www.fdic.gov/about/diversity/ (last visited
`Feb. 7, 2022) ....................................................................................................... 19
`Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Small Business Credit Survey: 2019 Report on
`Minority-Owned Firms,
`https://www.fedsmallbusiness.org/medialibrary/fedsmallbusiness/files/2019/20
`191211-ced-minority-owned-firms-report.pdf .................................................... 3
`Federal Reserve System, Supplier Diversity,
`https://www.federalreserve.gov/aboutthefed/procurement/supplier-diversity.htm
`(last visited Feb. 7, 2022) ................................................................................... 19
`Securities & Exchange Commission, Supplier Diversity Outreach,
`https://www.sec.gov/omwi/supplier-outreach (last visited Feb. 7, 2022) .......... 19
`Small Business Administration, Small Business Facts: Women-Owned Employer
`Businesses (Aug. 2021), https://cdn.advocacy.sba.gov/wp-
`content/uploads/2021/08/03103255/Small-Business-Facts-Women-Owned-
`Businesses.pdf ...................................................................................................... 3
`U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Minority and Women Inclusion,
`https://home.treasury.gov/about/offices/management/office-of-minority-and-
`women-inclusion (last visited Feb. 7, 2022) ...................................................... 19
`U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Coalition To Back Black Businesses,
`https://webackblackbusinesses.com/ (last visited Feb. 7, 2022) .......................... 5
`Walmart, Accelerating Our Commitment to Diverse and Minority Suppliers,
`https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2021/04/28/accelerating-our-
`commitment-to-diverse-and-minority-suppliers (last visited Feb. 7, 2022) ........ 3
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`CASE NUMBER: 3:21-cv-01833-BTM-MDD
`MEMORANDUM OF POINTS & AUTHORITIES
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`INTRODUCTION
`This case challenges certain Amazon business practices that the plaintiff has
`no standing to challenge and that, in all events, are entirely consistent with the only
`statute on which the plaintiff grounds his claim. The case should be dismissed.
`Amazon strives to be Earth’s most customer-centric company. Consistent
`with that mission, Amazon has developed various initiatives that help its
`customers—who increasingly seek to purchase goods from a diverse range of
`suppliers—connect with women- and minority-owned businesses. These initiatives
`take several forms. Amazon’s website spotlights small businesses that are owned
`and operated by a diverse range of individuals, including businesses that are locally-
`owned, veteran-owned, disabled-owned, black-owned, women-owned, and LGBT-
`owned. Amazon enables these sellers to showcase that they have been certified as
`such by federal, state, or private entities, and empowers customers to search for or
`otherwise be exposed to sellers that enjoy those credentials. Amazon also nurtures
`the growth of black-owned businesses through a program called the Black Business
`Accelerator (BBA).
`According to Plaintiff Jonathan Correll, these initiatives discriminated against
`him—a heterosexual white male—in violation of California’s Unruh Civil Rights
`Act. Compl. ⁋ 1. But Correll has never tried to sell anything on Amazon, and thus
`his claims are nothing more than abstract objections to business practices with which
`he disagrees. In a word, Correll lacks Article III standing, and thus this court lacks
`subject matter jurisdiction. To have standing, Correll must plausibly plead an injury
`in fact such as, for example, that he was “personally denied equal treatment” in
`Amazon’s stores. Carroll v. Nakatani, 342 F.3d 934, 946 (9th Cir. 2003). Here, that
`would require pleading facts plausibly showing that Correll was “able and ready” to
`receive some benefit, and that he would have received that benefit but for an
`allegedly “discriminatory policy.” Id. at 941 (internal quotation marks omitted).
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`Correll fails that test: Correll has pled no facts suggesting that he sells anything,
`much less that he was “able and ready” to sell a product in Amazon’s stores.
`Even putting this fatal defect aside, Correll would still fail to state an Unruh
`Act claim. The Act prohibits “arbitrary, invidious discrimination” that contravenes
`“state and national policy.” Angelucci v. Century Supper Club, 158 P.3d 718, 721
`(Cal. 2007). But Amazon’s initiatives are consistent with settled California and
`federal policy encouraging—and even mandating—precisely the kinds of diversity
`efforts at issue here. California, for example, has a “declared policy” “to aid the
`interests of women, minority, disabled veterans, and LGBT business enterprises in
`order to preserve . . . free competitive enterprise.” Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 8281(a).
`At the federal level, Congress has declared that “the opportunity for full participation
`in our free enterprise system by socially and economically disadvantaged persons is
`essential.” 15 U.S.C. § 631(f) (1)(A). To promote these interests, California and the
`federal government separately have enacted numerous laws encouraging businesses
`to purchase goods and services from a diverse range of suppliers, including
`businesses owned by women and minorities. Because Amazon’s initiatives are
`consistent with these policies, those initiatives cannot violate California’s Unruh Act
`as a matter of law.
`Correll’s case should be dismissed.
`BACKGROUND
`1. For decades, California and the federal government have promoted
`diversity in the business community. For instance, California requires hospitals and
`insurers to submit procurement diversity reports to state regulators, summarizing
`their “outreach and communications to minority, women, LGBT, and disabled
`veteran business enterprises.” Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1339.87(a)(2)(B); see
`also Cal. Ins. Code § 927.2(a)(2)(B). These requirements seek to “facilitate . . .
`supplier relationships” with “certified minority, women, LGBT, and disabled
`veteran business enterprises.” Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1339.85(b); see also
`CASE NUMBER: 3:21-cv-01833-BTM-MDD
`MEMORANDUM OF POINTS & AUTHORITIES
`IN SUPPORT OF MOTION TO DISMISS
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`Case 3:21-cv-01833-BTM-MDD Document 13-1 Filed 02/09/22 PageID.81 Page 11 of 32
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`Cal. Ins. Code § 927(f); infra at 13-19 (discussing numerous other California statutes
`promoting the same goals). And Congress has tasked the Small Business
`Administration (SBA) and Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) with
`fostering women- and minority-owned businesses. The SBA and MBDA actively
`promote supplier relationships with, and provide financial and technical assistance
`to, minority- and women-owned businesses. See, e.g., 15 U.S.C. §§ 637, 9007.1
`Consistent with these state and federal policies, a wide array of private
`businesses and government agencies across the country have established supplier
`diversity initiatives. Alexis Bateman et al., Why You Need A Supplier-Diversity
`Program, Harv. Bus. Rev. (Aug. 17, 2020) (Bateman), https://hbr.org/2020/08/why-
`you-need-a-supplier-diversity-program (discussing supplier-diversity programs at
`General Motors, IBM, UPS, Coca-Cola, and Target).2 Experts have noted, however,
`that businesses often face an “obstacle” in advancing those initiatives—namely,
`“[f]inding minority-owned vendors that comply with a buyer’s procurement
`requirements.” Bateman, supra.
`
`1 Historically, efforts to promote supplier diversity have sought to address
`perceived barriers to entry for women- and minority-owned small businesses. See,
`e.g., Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Small Business Credit Survey: 2019 Report
`Firms
`17,
`on
`Minority-Owned
`https://www.fedsmallbusiness.org/medialibrary/fedsmallbusiness/files/2019/20191
`211-ced-minority-owned-firms-report.pdf (noting that only 2% of U.S. businesses
`with employees are Black-owned, and only 5% are Hispanic-owned); SBA, Office
`of Advocacy, Small Business Facts: Women-Owned Employer Businesses (Aug.
`2021), https://cdn.advocacy.sba.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/03103255/Small-
`Business-Facts-Women-Owned-Businesses.pdf (noting that only 20% of U.S.
`businesses with employees are owned by women).
`2 See also, e.g., Apple, Apple and Procurement, https://apple.co/3oacJSA (last
`visited
`Feb.
`7,
`2022);
`Chevron,
`Diversity,
`Supplier
`https://www.chevron.com/operations/supplier-diversity (last visited Feb. 7, 2022);
`Walmart, Accelerating Our Commitment to Diverse and Minority Suppliers,
`https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2021/04/28/accelerating-our-
`commitment-to-diverse-and-minority-suppliers (last visited Feb. 7, 2022).
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`CASE NUMBER: 3:21-cv-01833-BTM-MDD
`MEMORANDUM OF POINTS & AUTHORITIES
`IN SUPPORT OF MOTION TO DISMISS
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`3
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`

`Case 3:21-cv-01833-BTM-MDD Document 13-1 Filed 02/09/22 PageID.82 Page 12 of 32
`
`
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`As part of its mission to be Earth’s most customer-centric company, Amazon
`created a number of initiatives to increase the diversity of its seller population so
`that customers have the greatest possible choice. And it has made seller diversity
`visible to customers so that they can make purchases on Amazon that are consistent
`with their goals.
`For one thing, Amazon allows sellers to inform consumers that they have
`received a “seller certification” from a government agency or non-profit
`organization attesting that the seller is a small or woman-, veteran-, LGBT-, or
`minority-owned business. Compl. ⁋ 14 & Ex. 10.3 For example, the SBA certifies
`small businesses owned and managed by women as “Woman-Owned Small
`Businesses.” Id. Those businesses may include that certification on their Amazon
`seller profile and customers may view that information when searching for products.
`Id. Amazon’s Guided Buying program allows Amazon Business customers to curate
`their search experience by allowing them to prioritize products sold by sellers with
`particular certifications without compromising a customer’s view of all products and
`sellers responsive to a search query. See id. ⁋ 17.
`Amazon also spotlights business owners of various backgrounds through
`webpages highlighting select businesses and their products. For example, Amazon
`launched a “Buy Black” page during Black History Month and a “Shop Hispanic &
`Latino Goods” page for Hispanic Heritage Month. Compl. ⁋⁋ 9, 11. Amazon has
`additionally featured stories from a range of women- and minority-owned
`businesses. Id. ⁋⁋ 7-8. As with Amazon’s Guided Buying program, although these
`curated sites allow customers to browse products and businesses of interest, they do
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`3 Because this case is at the motion-to-dismiss phase, Amazon recounts the facts
`as alleged in Correll’s complaint. In so doing, Amazon does not admit the truth of
`these allegations. See Whitaker v. Tesla Motors, Inc., 985 F.3d 1173, 1176 (9th Cir.
`2021).
`
`
`CASE NUMBER: 3:21-cv-01833-BTM-MDD
`MEMORANDUM OF POINTS & AUTHORITIES
`IN SUPPORT OF MOTION TO DISMISS
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`4
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`Case 3:21-cv-01833-BTM-MDD Document 13-1 Filed 02/09/22 PageID.83 Page 13 of 32
`
`
`not preclude customers from shopping for a full range of products available in
`Amazon’s stores.
`Finally, Amazon supports seller diversity through, among other things, its
`BBA program. The BBA offers financial grants, marketing support, and mentorship
`to Amazon sellers who “a) have an Amazon Professional Sellers account, b) have a
`physical product[] ready to promote and sell, and c) have uploaded a valid minority-
`owned business registration or certification to their accounts . . . demonstrating the
`business is Black-owned.” Compl. ⁋ 10. BBA participants receive a $500 grant to
`assist with start-up costs, a $400 credit for advertising, mentorship assistance, and
`other grant opportunities. Id.4
`2. On October 28, 2021, Correll filed a putative class action lawsuit against
`Amazon. According to the complaint, Correll is a “heterosexual White male
`businessman residing in San Diego, California.” Id. ⁋ 43. He alleges that he visited
`Amazon.com “in the summer and fall of 2021 with the intent . . . to sell products on
`Amazon.com when he encountered” several programs discriminating against third-
`party sellers in violation of California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act. Id. ⁋ 43; see Cal.
`Civ. Code §§ 51, 51.5. Specifically, he claims that Amazon’s acceptance of seller
`certifications unlawfully “aids, incites, and/or facilitates the efforts of buyers . . .
`who prefer doing business with only sellers who are LGBT, Black, Hispanic, Asian-
`
`4 Amazon’s BBA program is similar to initiatives supporting women- and
`minority-owned businesses adopted by other companies and business organizations
`nationwide. See, e.g., Apple, Apple Selects 15 Black- and Brown-Owned Businesses
`(Aug.
`17,
`2021),
`For
`First-Of-Its-Kind
`Impact
`Accelerator
`https://apple.co/3AFPogP; Downtown Long Beach Alliance, Women-Owned
`Business Accelerator Grant, https://downtownlongbeach.org/invest/grants/woman-
`owned-business-accelerator-grant/ (last visited Feb. 7, 2022) (describing the
`provision of “targeted busines

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