Lewis Brisbois Ex-Partner Sent to Arbitration Over Pay Dispute

A former Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP partner lost her bid to escape arbitration Friday in a dispute over pay that the firm has tried to clawback, with a Los Angeles state judge finding that she knew what she was signing.

Judge Barbara M. Scheper of California Superior Court, Los Angeles County was not convinced by arguments from plaintiff Julie O’Dell’s attorney that the arbitration agreement is unenforceable because it requires O’Dell to pay her share of the costs.

“She’s not an employee,” Scheper said from the bench, adopting her tentative ruling to send the case to arbitration within ...