Supreme Court of California

An appellate arbitration provision for arbitration awards over $50,000 is unconscionable and should be severed. A suit claiming wrongful termination in violation of public policy is subject to requirements for arbitration of unwaivable statutory claims set forth in Armendariz v. Foundation Health Psychcare Services, Inc. 24 Cal.4th 83 (2000).

Appellate Information

• Decided 02/27/2003
• Published 02/27/2003

Judges

• MORENO, J.

Court

• Supreme Court of California

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
•  Fisher & Phillips, Christopher C. Hoffman and Jeffrey R. Thurrell, Irvine, for Defendant and Appellant., Fine, Boggs, Cope & Perkins, Ned A. Fine, John P. Boggs, Half Moon Bay, and Michael K. Perkins for California Motorcar Dealers Association as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Defendant and Appellant., Winston & Strawn and Lee T. Paterson, Los Angeles, for The Employers Group as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Defendant and Appellant., Maxie, Rheinheimer, Stephens & Vrevich and Darin L. Wessel, San Diego, as Amici Curiae on behalf of Defendant and Appellant., Moskowitz, Brestoff, Winston & Blinderman, Nelson E. Brestoff and Dennis A. Winston, Los Angeles, for Plaintiff and Respondent., McGuinn, Hillsman & Palefsky, Cliff M. Palefsky, Keith Ehrman, San Francisco;  Pine & Pine and Norman Pine, Encino, for California Employment Lawyers Association as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Plaintiff and Respondent.