Kindred v. Second Judicial District Court of Nevada

**What Happened** Kindred, an employee at A.G. Edwards & Sons (a financial services company), faced discrimination and harassment at work. When Kindred tried to sue the company in court under federal laws that protect workers from discrimination (Title VII) and guarantee family leave rights (FMLA), the employer argued that Kindred had signed agreements requiring all workplace disputes to be resolved through arbitration instead of court. Arbitration is a private process where disputes are decided by a neutral third party rather than a judge or jury. **What the Court Decided** The Nevada Supreme Court sided with the employer. The court ruled that Kindred's arbitration agreements were valid and enforceable, meaning the discrimination and harassment claims had to be resolved through the securities industry's arbitration process (NASD) rather than in court. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case shows that arbitration agreements can prevent workers from taking workplace disputes to court, even for serious issues like discrimination and harassment. Workers should carefully review any arbitration clauses in their employment contracts, as these agreements may limit their options for seeking justice through the traditional court system when workplace problems arise.