Does Title VII Preclude Enforcement of Compulsory Arbitration Agreements - The Ninth Circuit Says Yes - Duffield v. Robertson Stephens & (and) Co.

This casenote examines a Ninth Circuit decision that considered the impact of the Civil Rights Act of 1991 on the unsettled question of whether Title VII precludes employers from requiring prospective employees, as a mandatory condition of employment, to foreclose their right to bring Title VII claims in federal court. The Ninth Circuit construct the 1991 Act to preclude enforcement of individual employment agreements that require employees to arbitrate statutory claims brought under Title VII. The holding of this case establishes a controversial precedent because it is inconsistent with a seminal Supreme Court decision, the FAA mandate and other recent federal decisions. This decision, in turn, creates uncertainty as to Congress\u27s intent regarding the applicability of arbitration to Title VII disputes