Saadallah Jabri and Aida Jabri v. Jamal Qaddura

**What Happened:** Saadallah and Aida Jabri had a workplace dispute with their employer, Jamal Qaddura. When they tried to take their case to regular court, Qaddura asked the court to stop the lawsuit and force the dispute into arbitration instead. Arbitration is a private process where disputes are resolved outside of court by neutral decision-makers. The trial court initially said no to Qaddura's request, allowing the case to proceed in regular court. **What the Court Decided:** The appeals court disagreed with the trial court and reversed the decision. The appeals court found that there was a valid written arbitration agreement between the parties that was legally enforceable under Texas law. As a result, the court ordered that the workplace disputes must be resolved through arbitration by the Texas Islamic Court, not in regular court. **Why This Matters for Workers:** This case shows that if you sign an arbitration agreement at work, courts will likely enforce it and require you to resolve disputes through arbitration rather than court. Workers should carefully read any arbitration clauses in employment contracts, as these agreements can significantly limit your options for pursuing workplace complaints through the traditional court system.