Nordstrom Cleared to Make California Worker Arbitrate Wage Row

Nordstrom Inc. can use an arbitration agreement and class action waiver to shunt a California worker’s claims from federal court to a private dispute resolution proceeding.

The plaintiff didn’t adequately demonstrate that he’s a transportation worker who falls under a carveout to the Federal Arbitration Act, so his individual wage-and-hour allegations against the department store chain belong in front of an arbitrator, the US District Court for the Central District of California said Monday. Also, his would-be class claims can’t go forward.

The FAA exemption often comes up in wage cases where people who signed arbitration agreements are looking for ...