Worker Avoids Arbitrating Wage Claims Through Sex Harassment Law

A New York wine bar worker can use a federal law banning forced arbitration of sexual harassment claims to keep litigating pay allegations in court too, a US judge has ruled, reversing in part a magistrate judge’s decision.

That prior ruling would have made plaintiff Danilo Mera arbitrate his wage claims while pursuing in court allegations that Café Focaccia Inc.—a wine bar doing business as Felice—subjected him to a hostile work environment because of his sexual orientation. But the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act lets the worker avoid arbitrating any of his claims, the US ...