Buffalo Wild Wings Case Tests Future of Class Action Waivers

A lawsuit accusing Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. of owing wages to thousands of workers could soften the blow for worker advocates reeling from a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision to legalize class action waivers.

The high court May 21 ruled in Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis that companies can require workers to sign arbitration agreements waiving their rights to file a class or collective action. The decision was a major victory for employers who want to include these clauses in employment contracts as a means of limiting their exposure to costly and embarrassing litigation.

The ruling was seen as a ...