Amateur Athletic Union of the United States, Inc., Paul Campbell, Rod Seaford, and Charles Oliver v. Augustus Bray

**AAU Employee Must Resolve Workplace Disputes Through Arbitration** Augustus Bray, a former employee of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), sued his employer and several individuals for various workplace issues including negligence, emotional distress, defamation, and conspiracy. Bray filed his lawsuit in regular court, seeking to have his claims heard by a judge and jury. However, the AAU argued that Bray had signed an arbitration agreement as part of his employment, which required him to resolve workplace disputes through private arbitration rather than going to court. The trial court initially sided with Bray and said he could proceed with his lawsuit. The AAU appealed this decision. The appeals court reversed the trial court's ruling, finding that Bray's arbitration agreement was valid and enforceable. The court ruled that most of Bray's claims must be resolved through arbitration, not in regular court. However, the court did find one part of the agreement problematic—a clause that prevented employees from seeking punitive damages was deemed unenforceable. **What this means for workers:** If you sign an arbitration agreement at work, you'll likely be required to resolve most employment disputes through private arbitration rather than court, though some protections (like the right to seek punitive damages) may still apply.