Retail Employee May Be Compelled to Arbitrate Employment Dispute, 9th Circuit Rules

SAN FRANCISCO — Nordstrom Inc. entered into a valid arbitration agreement with its employee and provided the employee with reasonable notice of a change to the agreement that precluded most class action lawsuits, a federal appeals court has ruled, finding the employee may be compelled to arbitrate an employment dispute.

In a June 23 opinion that reversed a lower court ruling, the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals further held that Nordstrom was not bound to inform the employee that her continued employment after receiving the letter constituted acceptance of new terms of employment.

Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling …