Co-authored by David D. Kadue and Simon L. Yang
On Tuesday, January 20, 2015, the Court declined to take the case of CLS Transportation Los Angeles, LLC v. Iskanian, in which an employer asked the Court to reverse a ruling of the California Supreme Court. At issue was whether an employee who has agreed to submit all employment-related claims
Continue Reading U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Referee Slugfest Between Federal and California Courts on Enforceability of Arbitration Agreements
Co-authored by Colleen Regan and David Kadue
Gentry is dead. Back in 2007, the California Supreme Court, in Gentry v. Superior Court held that California public policy favoring class actions was so important that employers cannot have employees, in arbitration agreements, waive their right to pursue a class action. Many thought that the Gentry rule contradicted the Federal Arbitration Act,
Continue Reading BREAKING NEWS RE CALIFORNIA CLASS ACTION WAIVERS: GENTRY IS DEAD; LONG LIVE PAGA.
Co-authored by Christina F. Jackson and Julie G. Yap
While employers have been waiting patiently for the California Supreme Court’s decision regarding the enforceability of class and representative action waivers in arbitration agreements, last week, a California federal court jumped into the fray and held that state law rules are powerless against the broad preemptive power of the Federal
Continue Reading Preempt This! California Federal Court Holds that Federal Law Preempts State Law Rules Against Waivers in Arbitration Agreements
Co-authored by Sheryl Skibbe and Simon L. Yang
Private Attorney General Actions (PAGA) brought by individuals as representative actions on behalf of the State of California and other aggrieved employees are not sufficiently similar to federal Rule 23 class actions to support federal jurisdiction under the Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA). But is there still a way into federal court?
Continue Reading PAGA PENALTIES FAIL TO ADD UP FOR FEDERAL JURISDICTION