Nilsen v. University of Washington

**Bank Customer Loses Bid to Sue in Court Over Account Dispute** A customer sued J.P. Morgan Chase over what appears to be a breach of contract related to their bank account services. The customer, Nilsen, wanted to take the bank to court to resolve the dispute. However, the court ruled in favor of J.P. Morgan Chase and ordered that the case must go to arbitration instead of proceeding as a lawsuit. The judge found that when Nilsen opened their account and agreed to online banking services, they signed agreements that clearly required any disputes to be resolved through arbitration rather than in court. These agreements also gave the arbitrator—not the court—the power to decide whether arbitration was required. **What This Means for Workers and Consumers:** This ruling highlights how common arbitration clauses have become in everyday agreements with banks and employers. When you sign up for bank accounts, credit cards, or employment contracts, you may unknowingly agree to give up your right to sue in court. Instead, disputes must be resolved through private arbitration, which typically happens behind closed doors and may limit your ability to join with others in class-action lawsuits. Always read the fine print carefully before signing any agreement.