Landmark new federal law bans mandatory arbitration and class action waivers for cases involving sexual harassment and sexual assault
On February 10, 2022, the Senate passed the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021,H.R. 4445. It is expected to be signed by President Biden shortly. The Act did the seemingly impossible by passing on lopsided, bipartisan votes in both the House and Senate, befitting its odd-couple Senate sponsors: Kirstin Gillibrand (D-NY) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC). The Act makes all pre-dispute arbitration agreements and class action waivers—including those already in existence—unenforceable in cases alleging sexual harassment or sexual assault...