Griffin v. BURLINGTON VOLKSWAGEN

**Griffin v. Burlington Volkswagen: Court Requires Dispute to Go to Arbitration** This case involved a customer named Griffin who had a dispute with Burlington Volkswagen over a car purchase that went badly wrong. Griffin sued the dealership for several serious claims, including false arrest, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. These are significant accusations that suggest the dealership may have had Griffin arrested or detained improperly during their business dispute. However, the court dismissed Griffin's entire lawsuit. The court ruled that Griffin had signed a retail order form when purchasing the car that included an arbitration clause. This clause required any disputes to be resolved through private arbitration rather than in court. Because of this agreement, the court said Griffin could not pursue the lawsuit and must instead take the matter to arbitration. **What This Means for Workers:** This case highlights how arbitration clauses can limit your right to sue in court, even for serious claims like false imprisonment. When you sign contracts - whether as an employee or customer - pay close attention to arbitration clauses. These agreements can force you into private arbitration proceedings instead of allowing you to file lawsuits, potentially limiting your legal options when disputes arise.