Rent-A-Center, West Inc. v. Jackson (09-497)
SUMMARY
Antonio Jackson was an employee of Rent-A-Center, West Inc and filed an employment discrimination suit for alleged racial discriminated and retaliation. Jackson also claimed that he was forced to sign an arbitration clause in his employment contract that was unreasonable. Because of the conditions of the arbitration clause, only an arbitrator could legally determine validly, however, Jackson argued that since the arbitration clause was unreasonable, the court should decide on its validity.
QUESTIONS PRESENTED
Under the Federal Arbitration Act, is a district court able to rule whether or not an arbitration agreement is conscionable when the agreement explicitly states that determining enforceability is the duty of the arbitrator?
BRIEF ANSWER
No. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that under the Federal Arbitration Act it …show more content…
Jackson applied for promotions within the company, but each time a non-African American employee with less seniority was promoted instead of Jackson. Rent-A-Center eventually promoted Jackson, but then fired him shortly after without cause. Jackson then filed in employment discrimination suit with the district court, however Rent-A-Center filed a motion to dismiss the suit because it violated the Federal Arbitration Act. The district court granted the motion to dismiss and request to move into arbitration, which the court ruled was pursuant with the arbitration clause of Jackson’s employment contract. Jackson filed an appeal with The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and they ruled that a court must determine an arbitration agreement’s validity when the clause’s validity is in question. Rent-A-Center then appealed the decision of the Ninth Circuit to the U.S. Supreme
SUMMARY
Antonio Jackson was an employee of Rent-A-Center, West Inc and filed an employment discrimination suit for alleged racial discriminated and retaliation. Jackson also claimed that he was forced to sign an arbitration clause in his employment contract that was unreasonable. Because of the conditions of the arbitration clause, only an arbitrator could legally determine validly, however, Jackson argued that since the arbitration clause was unreasonable, the court should decide on its validity.
QUESTIONS PRESENTED
Under the Federal Arbitration Act, is a district court able to rule whether or not an arbitration agreement is conscionable when the agreement explicitly states that determining enforceability is the duty of the arbitrator?
BRIEF ANSWER
No. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that under the Federal Arbitration Act it …show more content…
Jackson applied for promotions within the company, but each time a non-African American employee with less seniority was promoted instead of Jackson. Rent-A-Center eventually promoted Jackson, but then fired him shortly after without cause. Jackson then filed in employment discrimination suit with the district court, however Rent-A-Center filed a motion to dismiss the suit because it violated the Federal Arbitration Act. The district court granted the motion to dismiss and request to move into arbitration, which the court ruled was pursuant with the arbitration clause of Jackson’s employment contract. Jackson filed an appeal with The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and they ruled that a court must determine an arbitration agreement’s validity when the clause’s validity is in question. Rent-A-Center then appealed the decision of the Ninth Circuit to the U.S. Supreme