Altria Worker Alleging Bias Doesn’t Have to Arbitrate Claims

Altria Group Distribution Co.'s employment arbitration agreement with a Missouri worker is invalid because it gave the company the exclusive right to cancel or change without restriction, a state appeals court ruled.

Addressing an issue of first impression, the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western Division, said March 5 that Altria’s unrestricted, unshared power to modify the pact meant the company could nix a worker’s arbitration rights by changing or canceling the agreement after learning a worker is about to file a claim but before the worker has done so.

Courts in other states have similarly invalidated arbitration agreements where the ...