Bendau v. Sequoia One PEO, LLC

**What Happened** A worker sued Starbucks for discrimination and reached a settlement agreement during mediation with help from a neutral third party. However, when it came time to sign the written settlement papers, the worker refused because she believed the agreement was supposed to include a breastfeeding policy provision that wasn't in the final document. **What the Court Decided** The court enforced the settlement agreement even though the worker objected to signing it. The judge found that both sides had clearly agreed to the main terms during the mediation session, regardless of the worker's concerns about the missing breastfeeding policy language. The court determined that a valid settlement had been reached based on what happened during mediation. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case shows that settlement agreements made during mediation can be binding even if you later disagree with how they're written down. Workers should pay very close attention to what they agree to during mediation sessions and make sure all important terms are clearly stated before agreeing. If something matters to you, speak up immediately during mediation rather than waiting until the paperwork stage.