In O’Connor v. Uber Technologies, Inc., a Ninth Circuit panel, in four related appeals from District Judge Edward Chen’s rulings, reversed the denial of Uber Technologies Inc.’s motions to compel arbitration, also reversed the district court’s class certification orders and found the Rule 23(d) orders entered by the district court were moot. The opinion impacts … Continue Reading
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit decided two cases considering the impact of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) on class or collective action waivers required by companies for their applicants and employees. Convergys Corporation The first decision, in Convergys Corporation v. NLRB, No. 15-60860 (5th Cir. Aug. 7, 2017), addressed whether … Continue Reading
Following in the wake of an earlier opinion, the Eighth Circuit rebutted the National Labor Relations Board’s (“Board”) arguments that by requiring employees to enter into arbitration agreements with a class and collective action waiver, it violated the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”). This comes only a week after the Seventh Circuit ruled in favor … Continue Reading
Arbitration agreements are practical tools that help employers protect confidential information and avoid the costs associated with traditional litigation. They can also be an extremely effective mechanism for employers to reduce exposure to risky employment litigation and potentially abusive collective action claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). We’ve written extensively on the courts’ … Continue Reading
If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Join ‘Em In a development as incongruously surprising as Lady Gaga becoming President, the Ninth Circuit has enforced a class action waiver. Richards v. Ernst & Young, Case No. 17530 (August 21, 2013). On its own, that may only have been as shocking as, say, Ralph Nader taking the Oval … Continue Reading
A great deal of intellectual energy has been spent on the issue of whether various employment arbitration agreements are enforceable, but the debate pretty much comes down to two camps. Over 80 years ago, in response to judicial reluctance to enforce arbitration agreements, Congress passed the Federal Arbitration Act. Virtually every court on both sides … Continue Reading