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Epic and Lamps Plus: Employment Contracts, Arbitration Agreements and Class Waivers

Recording of a 90-minute CLE webinar with Q&A

This program is included with the Strafford CLE Pass. Click for more information.
This program is included with the Strafford All-Access Pass. Click for more information.

Conducted on Wednesday, August 7, 2019

Recorded event now available

or call 1-800-926-7926

This CLE course will discuss the recent Supreme Court decisions in Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis and Lamps Plus v. Valera and their impact on employment contracts, class waivers, and arbitration agreements for employers and employees.

Description

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled in 2012 that agreements requiring only individual arbitration--that is, barring class or collective arbitration--violated the NLRA and were an unfair labor practice.

Since then, the NLRB has steadfastly held that employers commit unfair labor practices by requiring their employees to sign arbitration agreements that include class action or collective action waivers. Appellate courts divided over whether to uphold the NLRB's conclusions and whether to enforce such provisions.

Last year in Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis, the U.S. Supreme Court held that employers may include class action and collective action waivers in mandatory arbitration agreements with their employees and that such agreements do not violate the NLRA. This ruling represented a sea change from previous NLRB holdings that agreements requiring only individual arbitration--that is, barring class or collective arbitration--violated the NLRA and were an unfair labor practice.

In April 2019, in Lamps Plus v. Valera, the Supreme Court made clear that Epic Systems was no outlier, holding that a contract drafted by the employer that only ambiguously required individual (and not class) arbitration would not be construed against the employer, again sending employees to individual arbitration.

As a result of these rulings, attorneys representing businesses should take a new look at arbitration agreements and consider (1) modifying existing contracts to include mandatory class action waivers, or (2) designing and implementing arbitration agreements with such waivers for use going forward. Although compulsory arbitration agreements were standard before the ruling, experts project these agreements will become the norm.

Listen as our expert panel discusses the recent Supreme Court decisions, what employers can do to ensure their arbitration programs are enforceable, and new strategies employers can expect to see from plaintiffs' attorneys in light of the anticipated increase in class action waivers.

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Outline

  1. Overview of Epic and Lamps Plus rulings and impact on employment contracts
  2. Strategies for employers in drafting enforceable arbitration agreements and class waivers
  3. Discussion of pending or recently enacted legislation designed to limit the use of arbitration, including a recent bill introduced in Congress to amend the FAA
  4. Tactics to expect from plaintiffs' counsel in light of the increasing use of class action waivers

Benefits

The panel will review these and other relevant topics:

  • What exactly do the Epic and Lamps Plus rulings allow regarding mandatory arbitration agreements and class waivers in employment contracts?
  • What should employers be doing to ensure their arbitration programs are enforceable?
  • What is on the horizon for proposed or recent legislation that may affect the Epic and Lamps Plus decisions?
  • What new strategies should employers expect to see from plaintiffs' attorneys in light of the potential increased use of class and collective action waivers?

Faculty

Lesser, Seth
Seth R. Lesser

Founding Partner
Klafter Lesser

Mr. Lesser practices in the areas of consumer advocacy, wage and hour litigation, and corporate governance, primarily...  |  Read More

Massiatte, Michael
Michael W. Massiatte

Of Counsel
DLA Piper

Mr. Massiatte focuses his practice on labor and employment matters, including employee relations, employee benefits,...  |  Read More

Murray, Christopher
Christopher C. Murray

Shareholder, Chair Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice Group
Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart

Mr. Murray assists attorneys throughout the firm and clients nationwide to create, roll out, and enforce effective...  |  Read More

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