Update and Discussion on Legal and Practical Issues
Case in Point -- Recent Updates in California Employment Law
Employment Law Now V-92 – Analyzing Congress’ Proposed “Pro Act” and Its Implication on Labor Law
Employment Law Now IV-55 – Six Significant Developments to be On Your Radar
[WEBINAR] 2019 Annual Labor & Employment Update
III-41- Things That Make You Go “Hmmm” in Employment Law
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit recently compelled two parties to arbitrate their claims despite the abolishment of the forum that they selected in their international commercial arbitration clause. The case...more
On January 27, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued a significant opinion holding that the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) does not prohibit the enforcement of arbitration...more
A California appeals court recently ruled that a federal law preventing employers from requiring sexual harassment claims to be arbitrated also blocks arbitration of all other claims alleged as part of the same case. While...more
Summary: The Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act applies not just to sexual assault and sexual harassment claims, but to all claims asserted in the “case.”...more
As courts continue to work out the scope of the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act (EFAA), the California Court of Appeal in two decisions held that a plaintiff cannot be compelled to...more
On May 16, 2024, the Supreme Court of the United States (“SCOTUS”) unanimously held that when a district court finds that when a lawsuit involves an arbitrable dispute and a party has requested a stay of the court proceeding...more
Recent decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court in Smith v. Spizzirri, 601 U.S. 472 (2024) and Coinbase, Inc. v. Suski, 144 S. Ct. 1186 (2024) provide important guidance for companies utilizing arbitration clauses in their...more
Businesses operating public facing websites that employ data analytics software to track users’ website interactions must be aware of a novel use of the California Information Privacy Act (“CIPA”) that has taken the...more
What happens when a party required by contract to arbitrate a claim tries pursuing it in court, nonetheless? Should the case be dismissed? Or must the court hold the case on its docket while the parties seek resolution...more
In a recent ruling, a California appeals court found an arbitration agreement with an eyewear store employee that was presented on a take-it-or-leave-it basis required an arbitrator to apply the laws of another state,...more
The United States Senate Judiciary Committee, with bipartisan support, has advanced the Protecting Older Americans Act Bill. The bill, which was introduced by Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., heads to...more
On May 16, 2024, the United States Supreme Court unanimously held that, when enforcing an arbitration clause subject to the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA), if any party requests a stay, the district court lacks discretion to...more
On May 16, 2024, in Smith v. Spizzirri, the Supreme Court of the United States resolved a long-standing circuit split that affects motions to compel arbitration in federal court. Specifically, the Court answered whether...more
Mandatory arbitration agreements remain popular for employers concerned about the cost, delays, and unpredictability of traditional litigation. The Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) requires federal courts to defer in most...more
The U.S. Department of Labor estimates 56 percent of all nonunion private-sector employees are subject to mandatory arbitration agreements. Many employers use such agreements—and the class action waivers contained therein—to...more
“Shall” means “shall” in the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA), a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court held in Smith v. Spizzirri, No. 22–1218 (May 16, 2024). The Court explained the language in the FAA providing a court “shall on...more
In Smith v. Spizzirri, the Supreme Court unanimously held that federal district courts lack the power to dismiss a case sent to arbitration. Instead, under the Federal Arbitration Act, if a party moves to compel arbitration...more
The U.S. Supreme Court has decided an issue concerning cases that are subject to arbitration that has divided the federal courts of appeals: when the claims at issue in a federal court suit are subject to arbitration, does...more
On May 16, 2024, the United States Supreme Court in Smith v. Spizzirri addressed whether district courts are required to stay a lawsuit pending arbitration, or if they have the discretion to dismiss the suit when all the...more
On May 16, 2024, the Supreme Court unanimously held that when a district court compels claims to arbitration and a party has requested a stay under section 3 of the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA), the district court is...more
The Supreme Court issued a decision Thursday in a case named Smith, et al. v. Spizzirri, et al., that has significant import for the franchise community. Many, if not the vast majority of, franchise agreements contain clauses...more
The gig economy has had a substantial impact on employment nationwide, and Minnesota is no different. Minneapolis in particular has been a hotbed for disputes between rideshare companies and local lawmakers trying to increase...more
Hohenshelt v. Superior Court, 318 Cal. Rptr. 3d 475 (Cal. Ct. App. 2024) - For the seventh time since they became effective in 2020, the California Court of Appeal has published an opinion holding that Cal. Code Civ. Proc....more
Kader v. Southern Cal. Med. Ctr., Inc., 99 Cal. App. 5th 214 (2024) - The Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act (9 U.S.C. §§ 401, et seq.) became effective on March 3, 2022. A “statutory...more
In 2022, Congress enacted the “Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act” (the “Act”) which provides that, at the election of the person alleging conduct constituting a sexual harassment dispute or...more