Cisco’s Bid to Arbitrate Caste Bias Case Heads for Appeal (1)

Cisco Systems Inc. is appealing a California judge’s denial of its request to move to arbitration a caste discrimination lawsuit brought by state regulators, pausing proceedings in a closely watched case that could test the boundaries of current anti-bias laws.

Judge Drew Takaichi of the California Superior Court for Santa Clara County denied Cisco’s motion to compel arbitration in February. The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, which sued on behalf of a Cisco employee, isn’t a party to an arbitration agreement between the company and the worker, and hasn’t agreed to arbitrate its claims “for the public interest” ...