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Arbitration CA Supreme Court Preemption

Arbitration is a widely-used method for settling disputes between parties. During arbitration, parties submit their dispute to an impartial third person or party, usually chosen by the parties. Typically, parties... more +
Arbitration is a widely-used method for settling disputes between parties. During arbitration, parties submit their dispute to an impartial third person or party, usually chosen by the parties. Typically, parties to arbitration agree in advance to be bound by the arbitrator's decision. Arbitration is an alternative to litigation, but it shares many of the familiar features of litigation. Namely, parties to arbitration hold hearings before neutral decision-makers, present evidence and argue the merits of their position. Parties often choose arbitration due to its perceived advantages over litigation. Those perceived advantages include greater efficiency and flexibility, and lower costs. less -
Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP

Employers May Now Obtain Equitable Relief for Untimely Arbitration Payments

After years of appellate cases and several rulings holding California employers to the very strict payment standards of the California Arbitration Act (CAA), the California Supreme Court has, for the first time, addressed...more

Husch Blackwell LLP

California Supreme Court Tackles Federal Preemption Issues in Employment and Consumer Arbitrations

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On August 11, 2025, the California Supreme Court issued a decision in the matter of Dana Hohenshelt v. The Superior Court of Los Angeles, ruling that the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”) does not preempt the California...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

California Supreme Court Rules FAA Does Not Preempt Arbitration Fee Deadline, Rejects Strict Penalties

On August 11, 2025, the Supreme Court of California ruled that the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) does not preempt a state statute requiring employers to timely pay arbitration fees or forfeit the right to arbitration. The...more

Clark Hill PLC

California employers gain relief in arbitration fee deadline ruling

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In a highly anticipated decision, the California Supreme Court in Dana Hohenshelt v. Golden State Foods Corp. relieves some pressure for employers, holding that late payment of arbitration fees does not result in an automatic...more

Fenwick & West LLP

CA Supreme Court: Federal Arbitration Act Does Not Preempt State Law on Timely Arbitration Fee Payment

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The California Supreme Court recently held in Hohenshelt v. Superior Court that the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) does not preempt a California law that penalizes businesses that have consumer and employee arbitration...more

McGuireWoods LLP

Corporate Defendants Take Note: California Supreme Court Rules State Law Requiring Timely Payment of Arbitration Fees Not...

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On Aug. 11, 2025, in Hohenshelt v. Superior Court, the California Supreme Court held that the Federal Arbitration Act does not preempt California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1281.98. The statute, intended to deter the...more

Paul Hastings LLP

California Supreme Court Issues Decision Addressing Whether the FAA Preempts California's Rule Governing Late Payment of...

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The California Supreme Court issued its decision in Hohenshelt v. Superior Court, addressing whether the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) preempts California's rule governing late payment of arbitration fees, Cal. Code Civ....more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

California Supreme Court to Decide Key FAA Preemption Case on Arbitration Fee Compliance

The Supreme Court of California is set to decide whether the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) preempts a California statute that requires employers to forfeit the right to arbitrate disputes with employees if arbitration fees...more

Troutman Pepper Locke

Will the California Supreme Court Finally Curtail the State’s Historic Hostility to Arbitration?

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California is famously inhospitable to arbitration. In fact, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down California laws disfavoring arbitration on no fewer than six occasions between 1987 and 2022....more

Stokes Wagner

California Supreme Court Averts SCOTUS Viking River Decision, Allowing Litigation of PAGA Claims Despite Arbitration Agreement

Stokes Wagner on

Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an employer-friendly decision in Viking River Cruises v. Moriana. There, it held that the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) preempts the California Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA)...more

BakerHostetler

PAGA Standing Allows a Plaintiff to Have One Foot in a Compelled Individual Arbitration and One Foot in a Representative Court...

BakerHostetler on

On July 17, the California Supreme Court issued its decision in Adolph v. Uber Technologies, Inc. (Cal. Sup. Ct. Case No. S274671), in which it addressed whether a plaintiff who is compelled to arbitrate their individual...more

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

Post-Epic Systems Challenges to Iskanian Are Going Nowhere

In the landmark case of Iskanian v. CLS Transportation Los Angeles, LLC, 59 Cal. 4th 348 (2014), the California Supreme Court held that an arbitration agreement purporting to waive the right to bring a representative action...more

Mintz - Arbitration, Mediation, ADR...

Waiving Claims for Public Injunctive Relief in California Arbitration Agreements: The McGill Rule on Appeal

The inclusion in arbitration clauses of a waiver of public injunctive relief has gained popularity generally, but such a waiver is currently unenforceable in California. However, California’s controversial precedent on the...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

California Invalidates Wage Arbitration Agreement, Inviting U.S. Supreme Court Review

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Seyfarth Synopsis: The California Supreme Court invalidated an employment arbitration agreement on August 29, 2019. At issue in OTO, LLC v. Kho was an agreement to arbitrate employment claims, including wage claims. Under the...more

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

Choose Your Forum Wisely: Save Your Arbitration Clause From California’s Prohibition on Pre-Dispute Waivers of a Plaintiff’s Right...

The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in AT&T Mobility v. Concepcion, 563 U.S. 333 (2011) caused a shockwave in California’s class action bar when it held that the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”) preempted California’s former...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

No Preemption Where Labor Code Doesn’t Require Consulting A CBA

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Seyfarth Synopsis: The California Supreme Court held that the Labor Management Relations Act does not preempt claims under the Labor Code where a defense requires little more than referring to a collective bargaining...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

2019 Employment Law: Cases Pending in the California Supreme Court

Seyfarth Shaw LLP on

Seyfarth Synopsis: Employment-related cases pending before the California Supreme Court concern various questions that sometimes seem technical, but the answers they elicit will have big consequences. ...more

Troutman Pepper Locke

California Supreme Court Finds Arbitration Agreement Waiver of 'Public Right' Unenforceable

Troutman Pepper Locke on

On April 6, the California Supreme Court issued a unanimous opinion in McGill v. Citibank, finding that a pre-dispute arbitration agreement was unenforceable to the extent it required the plaintiff to waive her right to seek...more

Carlton Fields

California Supreme Court Finds Waiver Of Statutory Remedy In Arbitration Agreement Contrary To Public Policy

Carlton Fields on

“Agreements to arbitrate claims for public injunctive relief under [California’s Consumers Legal Remedy Act or Unfair Competition Law], or the false advertising law are not enforceable in California.” The California Supreme...more

Fenwick & West LLP

Litigation Alert: CA Supreme Court Holds Arbitration Provisions Waiving Right to Seek Public Injunctive Relief "In Any Forum" Are...

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In a closely-watched case, the California Supreme Court recently held in McGill v. Citibank, N.A. that arbitration clauses that foreclose a plaintiff’s right to pursue public injunctive relief in any forum are invalid and...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

California Supreme Court Invalidates Contractual Waivers Of Public Injunctive Relief

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Seyfarth Synopsis: No California contractual provision, including one in an arbitration agreement, can waive the statutory right to seek injunctive relief to protect the general public. McGill v. Citibank, N.A. (April 6,...more

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

McGill v. Citibank and Arbitration Agreements

On Thursday, April 7, 2017, in McGill v. Citibank, the California Supreme Court held that a pre-dispute arbitration agreement that waives the right to seek public injunctive relief is contrary to public policy and thus...more

BakerHostetler

PAGA In The News – Ninth Circuit Sides with California Supreme Court On Enforcement of PAGA Waivers and California Amends The...

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The Ninth Circuit Decision - Delivering a perhaps unexpected blow to employers, the Ninth Circuit sided with the California Supreme Court earlier this week in upholding the state-court-fashioned Iskanian rule, which...more

Carlton Fields

California Employment Law and Arbitration: The Battle Intensifies

Carlton Fields on

Yesterday, by a two-to-one vote, the Ninth Circuit joined the California Supreme Court in holding that Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) claims are an exception to the Federal Arbitration Act. In Sakkab v. Luxottica Retail...more

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

It Is Now Easier To Draft Class Action Waivers and Arbitration Agreements

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Last week, the California Supreme Court provided additional guidance as to how to draft an enforceable arbitration agreement and how Courts should analyze whether mandatory arbitration provisions can be held unconscionable...more

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