Ortega v. Faithlife, LLC

**What Happened** An employee sued their employer, Associated Banc-Corp, claiming the company broke their contract. When the case went to court, the worker wanted a jury trial, where regular citizens would decide the outcome. However, the employer pointed to language in a promissory note the employee had signed that said any disputes would be decided by a judge alone, not a jury. **What the Court Decided** The Wisconsin Supreme Court sided with the employer. The court ruled that the employee had validly agreed to give up their right to a jury trial when they signed the promissory note. The court found this "jury waiver" clause was legally enforceable, and the employer had properly requested to remove the jury from the case in time. As a result, the case proceeded with only a judge making the decision. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling shows that employees can lose important legal rights through contract language they sign. Workers should carefully review any documents from their employer, especially promissory notes or loan agreements, as these might contain clauses limiting how disputes can be resolved. Jury waivers mean giving up the right to have peers decide workplace disputes.