Arredondo v. SNH SE Ashley River Tenant, LLC

**What Happened** This case involved a dispute over whether a legal document forcing arbitration (private dispute resolution instead of court) was valid. Ashley River Plantation, an assisted-living facility, had an arbitration agreement signed by Thayer Arredondo, who was acting as a legal representative for facility resident Hubert Whaley under a power of attorney. When a dispute arose, the question became whether Arredondo had the proper authority to sign this agreement on Whaley's behalf. **What the Court Decided** The South Carolina Supreme Court ruled that the arbitration agreement was not enforceable. The court found that Arredondo lacked the legal authority to sign the arbitration agreement for Whaley, even though he was acting under a power of attorney. This reversed a lower court's decision that had upheld the agreement. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling protects workers and their families by ensuring that arbitration agreements cannot be improperly forced upon them. It establishes that someone acting on another person's behalf must have clear, specific authority to sign agreements that limit legal rights. This is particularly important for vulnerable workers in healthcare settings and their family members who may need legal representation.