Bunch v. Caterpillar Logistics Inc.

**Sleep Number Workers Win Right to Sue in State Court** This case involved employees of Sleep Number (Select Comfort Retail Corporation) who claimed the company violated wage and hour laws by not properly paying them for their work. The workers filed their lawsuit in state court, but Sleep Number tried to move the case to federal court and force the employees into private arbitration instead of allowing them to proceed with their lawsuit. The court sided with the workers and sent the case back to state court. The judge ruled that Sleep Number failed to prove the lawsuit involved enough money to qualify for federal court jurisdiction. Because of this decision, the court didn't need to address Sleep Number's request to dismiss the case or force arbitration. This ruling matters for workers because it protects their right to choose where they file wage theft claims. When companies try to move cases to federal court or push them into arbitration, it can make it harder and more expensive for workers to fight for unpaid wages. By keeping the case in state court, workers often have better access to justice and may find it easier to pursue their claims. The decision reinforces that employers can't automatically avoid state court proceedings just because they prefer a different forum.