Paralegal Harassment Claim, Arbitration Opt-Out Face Questions

Adams & Reese LLP and a paralegal who says a #MeToo-inspired law permits her to pursue sexual harassment and disability bias claims in court rather than arbitration underwent tough questioning by the Sixth Circuit on Thursday.

The firm seeks to undo former Nashville-based employee Randi Bruce’s win below, in which its motion to compel arbitration was denied under the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act. The 2022 law allows workers to opt out of otherwise enforceable arbitration agreements when a case raises a “sexual harassment dispute,” and a lower court found Bruce plausibly pleaded sexual harassment ...