Hill, Farrer & Burrill LLP

News & Updates

Good News For Employers Looking To Avoid Class Actions

June 23, 2014

Today, the California Supreme Court issued its long-awaited decision in Iskanian v. CLS Transportation Los Angeles, LLC, regarding the enforceability of class-action waivers in arbitration agreements.  The Court finally acknowledged precedent from the United States Supreme Court and held that the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) preempts any state law that would preclude an employee from waiving the right to bring a class-action proceeding in arbitration.  As a result, employers can require employees to individually arbitrate any claims that are typically asserted on a class-wide basis, such as relief for alleged wage and hour violations.  The Court also rejected the argument that the type of class-action waiver at issue in Iskanian was unlawful under the National Labor Relations Act because that statute’s general protection of concerted activity does not bar class-action waivers.

Despite ruling that class-action waivers are enforceable, the Court did hold that employees cannot be required to waive the right to bring representative actions under the Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 (PAGA).  Under PAGA, employees can seek civil penalties from the employer for certain Labor Code violations, although the majority of proceeds are paid to the state.  However, PAGA actions may still be arbitrable where the parties express a preference to resolve such claims through arbitration, and other approaches may exist to lessen the significance of the Court’s PAGA holding.

On balance, the Iskanian decision is welcome news for the state’s employers, which have been beleaguered in recent years by costly and disruptive class-action litigation.  In light of the Court’s ruling, we strongly recommend that employers with arbitration policies have counsel review them immediately to confirm that they are governed by the FAA, and that they are drafted to maximize the potential benefits afforded under applicable law.  Any employers considering whether to implement arbitration policies should recognize the benefits of doing so, especially now that class-action waivers are enforceable.

If you are interested in reviewing your arbitration policy, or implementing such a policy, please contact your Labor and Employment counsel at Hill Farrer.  We are specialists in crafting cutting-edge, enforceable arbitration agreements that meet the needs of our clients.

Also, clients and other interested employers are invited to attend our Firm’s Annual Employment Law Seminar, which will be held on October 21, 2014.  One of the topics of discussion will be the Iskanian decision and what employers can do to keep their arbitration agreements up to date.  The seminar will be held at DoubleTree Suites, 2085 S Harbor Blvd, Anaheim, California  92802.  Anyone interested in attending should contact Sara Mizuno at (213) 621-0825 or smizuno@hillfarrer.com.