by Michelle Ferber and Traci Holian
On Monday, August 22, 2016, in a 2-1 decision, the Ninth Circuit, in Morris v. Ernst & Young, LLP, invalidated an arbitration agreement provision which barred employees from filing class actions relating to wages, hours, and employment terms and conditions. The Ninth Circuit based its ruling on the grounds that the arbitration provision violated the National Labor Relations Act and a âsubstantialâ federal right of employees.
The Ninth Circuitâs decision highlights the existing split amongst U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal. The Ninth Circuitâs opinion sides with the Seventh Circuit but contradicts previous rulings from the Fifth Circuit which upheld the validity of similar arbitration provisions.
Ernst & Young strongly argued that the Federal Arbitration Act (âFAAâ) supersedes the National Labor Relations Act. However, the court found that an employeeâs right to pursue legal claims in a class is a substantive federal right. The court further found the FAAâs savings clause broadly validates arbitration agreement provisions, except for provisions that prevent a substantive federal right. Therefore, Ernst & Youngâs arbitration provision expressly denying employeesâ substantive federal right to pursue employment-related legal claims as a class, is invalidated by the FAAâs savings clause and cannot be enforced.
What This Means For You: The California Employer
If you are an employer in California reading this article you may wonder how this new decision should direct your actions relating to both future and existing arbitration agreements. There are three essential things to consider here.
First, the Ninth Circuitâs Opinion is not binding precedent on California State Courts. While the recent decision is certainly influential as persuasive authority, California State Courts are not bound to this decision.
Second, until there is a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on this issue there is uncertainty and therefore, a degree of risk.
Third, the Ninth Circuitâs Opinion suggests that non-mandatory arbitration agreements containing the same provisions might be upheld. Thus, one potential option is to provide an âopt-outâ window for employees, thereby arguing that the arbitration agreement is not mandatory and giving more credence to the agreementâs validity and voluntary nature.
DISCLAIMER: Because of the generality of this update, the information provided herein may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without specific legal advice based on particular situations.