JPMorgan Loses Bid to Arbitrate Customer’s Race Bias Claims

JP Morgan Chase & Co. and a Colorado branch manager must defend a Black customer’s racial discrimination claims in court because the allegations aren’t covered by the company’s arbitration agreement, a federal district court ruled.

Plaintiff Jeanetta Vaughn alleges she entered a Chase Bank branch in Aurora, Colo., on June 9, 2022, took a seat in the lobby, and began to unlock her Chase card from her phone’s Chase Bank Mobile Application.

According to the complaint, Branch Manager Trina Pelech, who is White, “immediately approached her, loudly asking Ms. Vaughn if she could help her with anything.” Vaughn said ...