In a major turn of events for California employers, on December 15, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court granted certiorari in a case that challenges California’s ban on arbitration agreements that limit employees’ right to sue their...more
Generally, the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”) has routinely been enforced by the balance of the nation’s courts over the years, as it codifies accepted deference to parties’ contracts and agreements and has been held to...more
On March 26, the American Bankers Association and the Consumer Bankers Association, represented by Ballard Spahr, filed an amicus brief in support of petitions for certiorari asking the Supreme Court to review the Ninth...more
The California Legislature’s attempt to circumvent both the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”) and the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Epic Systems by crafting a new law prohibiting California employers from requiring...more
After denying the defendants’ petitions for panel and en banc rehearing in the Blair v. Rent-a-Center appeals, the Ninth Circuit has granted their motions to stay the issuance of the Court’s mandates for 90 days pending the...more
In a case with important implications for employers, Lamps Plus, Inc. v. Varela, the United States Supreme Court held that class-wide arbitration may not be compelled pursuant to an arbitration agreement that is ambiguous as...more
In last year’s Epic Systems decision, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) allows mandatory arbitration agreements that preclude class or collective action claims. In other words, a party to the...more
Over the past several years, the U.S. Supreme Court has been expanding the enforceability of arbitration agreements and making it easier for employers to keep employment claims out of court. In its landmark Epic Systems...more
Approximately one year ago, the United States Supreme Court issued its landmark decision in Epic Systems v. Lewis, 548 U.S. ___ (2018), holding that class action waivers contained in arbitration agreements, including...more
In May, the U.S. Supreme Court held that mandatory arbitration agreements containing class action or collective action waivers must be enforced as written....more
An Executive Order issued by Washington Governor Jay Inslee on June 12, 2018 seeks to rebuff the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Epic Systems LLC v. Lewis, 138 S. Ct. 1612 (May 21, 2018)...more
Last month, in Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis, the Supreme Court of the United States decided class action waivers in employment arbitration agreements do not violate the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”). A class action...more
Wage and Hour - Decision Upholds Class Action Waivers in Arbitration Clauses, Resolves Circuit Split - The U.S. Supreme Court issued a long-awaited decision in Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis on May 21, 2018, holding that...more
An extremely close 5-4 ruling in the U.S. Supreme Court confirmed that employment agreements that state employees must give up their rights to pursue class action claims are legal. The issue reached the Supreme Court from the...more
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that employers may require their employees to resolve wage and hour disputes through one-on-one arbitration instead of through class actions. In Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis, the Supreme Court...more
On May 21, 2018, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis that arbitration agreements containing class action waivers are enforceable under the Federal Arbitration Act. 584 U.S. ___ (Dkts. 16-285,...more
May a company ask its employees to enter into agreements to arbitrate disputes and that also waive an employee’s ability to bring a class or collective action on behalf of other present or former employees? On May 21, 2018,...more
On Monday, May 21, the Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, ruled that companies can use arbitration clauses in employment contracts to prohibit workers from banding together to bring class action suits over workplace issues....more
A sharply divided U.S. Supreme Court decided one of the most highly anticipated employment cases in recent years on May 21, 2018, holding in Epic Systems Corporation v. Lewis that the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”)...more
On Monday, Justice Gorsuch for the United States Supreme Court issued an opinion in Epic Systems Corp v. Lewis, together with two companion cases, upholding the use of class and collective action waivers in arbitration...more
The U.S. Supreme Court gave a huge win to employers on May 21, 2018, in its much-anticipated decision in Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis, upholding the validity of arbitration agreements that require employees to arbitrate claims...more
The Supreme Court of the United States issued two decisions today: Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis, No. 16-285: Three cases from three different circuits – the Fourth Circuit, Seventh Circuit, and Ninth Circuit – all...more
In its eagerly-awaited opinion in Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis, the U.S. Supreme Court held on May 21 that class action waivers in arbitration agreements between employers and employees do not violate the National Labor...more
Just hours ago, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an opinion finding arbitration agreements that prohibit an employee from bringing or joining a class or collective action in a wage lawsuit are enforceable....more
Last week, the United States Supreme Court informed litigants in Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis that it is pushing the case to its October 2017 term. The lawsuit, which rose up through the Western District of Wisconsin and the...more