Siebert v. Amateur Athletic Union of United States, Inc.

What Happened
Jeff and Cindy Siebert, along with Amy Siebert, sued the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) claiming discrimination and failure to accommodate disabilities. The dispute involved events that occurred during the 2003 season and afterward. The Sieberts had signed agreements with the AAU that included arbitration clauses, which required them to resolve disputes through arbitration rather than going to court.

What the Court Decided
The court reached a split decision. For Jeff and Cindy Siebert's claims about what happened in 2003, the court dismissed their lawsuit because they had signed binding arbitration agreements that required them to handle those disputes outside of court. However, the court allowed their claims for events that happened after 2003 to move forward in the lawsuit. Amy Siebert's entire case was permitted to proceed because she had never joined the AAU and wasn't bound by any arbitration agreement.

Why This Matters for Workers
This case shows how arbitration clauses in employment or membership agreements can limit workers' ability to sue in court, but these clauses don't necessarily cover all future disputes. Workers should carefully review any arbitration agreements they sign and understand that such agreements may prevent them from taking certain legal claims to court.