Herrington v. Union Planters Bank, N.A.

**What Happened** Bank employees sued Union Planters Bank claiming they were wrongfully fired. However, the bank argued that the workers couldn't take their case to court because they had agreed to handle any disputes through arbitration instead of a lawsuit. The bank said this agreement existed because the employees had bank accounts with revised terms that included an arbitration clause, and they continued using their accounts after being notified of these changes. **The Court's Decision** The court sided with the bank and ordered that the dispute must go to arbitration rather than proceed as a court case. The judge found that by continuing to use their bank accounts after receiving notice of the new terms that included mandatory arbitration, the employees had validly agreed to resolve disputes through arbitration. **What This Means for Workers** This ruling highlights an important concern for employees: you might unknowingly agree to arbitration requirements through routine banking or other service agreements. Workers should carefully review any changes to account terms or employment contracts, as continuing to use services after receiving notice of arbitration clauses could limit your ability to sue in court later. Always read the fine print when banks or employers send notices about changed terms.