Ostler v. Harris

**Ostler v. Harris: Court Sends Discrimination Case to Private Arbitration** This case involved a workplace discrimination dispute between an employee and LSC Holdings, Inc. The worker, Ostler, filed a lawsuit claiming discrimination, but the company argued that the case should be handled through private arbitration instead of in court. The court sided with the company and ordered that the dispute be resolved through arbitration. The judge found that the employment contract between the parties included an arbitration clause that covered this type of workplace dispute. As a result, the court dismissed the discrimination lawsuit, though the employee could still pursue the claims through the arbitration process. **What this means for workers:** This ruling highlights the importance of carefully reading employment contracts before signing them. Many companies now include arbitration clauses that require workplace disputes to be resolved privately rather than in court. While arbitration can be faster and less expensive, workers should understand that it typically means giving up the right to a jury trial and may limit their legal options. If you're facing workplace discrimination, check your employment agreement to see if it contains an arbitration clause that could affect how your case proceeds.