![[US] Laid-off Twitter workers cannot pursue class-action lawsuit](http://globalpayrollassociation.com/cdn/shop/articles/bigstock-Kazan-Russia--Mar-------450847739_1200x.jpg?v=1673928272)
Twitter has secured a ruling that will allow the social media giant to make a group of laid-off workers suing over their termination pursue their claims via individual arbitration rather than a class-action lawsuit, CNN reports.
On January 13 in San Francisco, US District Judge James Donato ruled that five former Twitter employees pursuing a proposed class action accusing the company of failing to give adequate notice before laying them off, following its acquisition by Elon Musk, must pursue their claims in private arbitration.
Judge Donato reportedly granted Twitter’s request to force the five ex-employees to pursue their claims individually, citing agreements they signed with the company.
Twitter did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment.
The judge left the question of whether the entire class action lawsuit must be dismissed for another day “as warranted by developments in the case”, noting that three other former Twitter employees who alleged they had opted out of the company’s arbitration agreement have joined the lawsuit since it was first filed.
Shannon Liss-Riordan - the lawyer representing the plaintiffs - said last week that she had already filed 300 demands for arbitration on behalf of former Twitter employees and was likely to file hundreds more.
Those workers all reportedly claim they have not received the full severance package promised by Twitter before Mr Musk took over. Some have also alleged sex or disability discrimination.
In 2022, Judge Donato ruled that Twitter must notify the thousands of workers who were laid off after its acquisition by Mr Musk following a proposed class action accusing the company of failing to give adequate notice before terminating them.
The judge said at that time that Twitter must give workers “a succinct and plainly worded notice” before asking them to sign severance agreements waiving their ability to sue the company,
Twitter laid off roughly 3,700 employees in early November in a cost-cutting measure by Mr Musk. Hundreds more subsequently resigned.
In December 2022, Twitter also received further accusations from dozens of former employees of various legal violations stemming from Musk’s takeover of the company, including the alleged targeting of women for layoffs and failing to pay promised severance.
In addition, Twitter is facing at least three complaints filed with a US labour board claiming workers were fired for criticising the company, attempting to organise a strike and other conduct protected by federal labour law.
Source: CNN
(Links and quotes via original reporting)
Twitter has secured a ruling that will allow the social media giant to make a group of laid-off workers suing over their termination pursue their claims via individual arbitration rather than a class-action lawsuit, CNN reports.
On January 13 in San Francisco, US District Judge James Donato ruled that five former Twitter employees pursuing a proposed class action accusing the company of failing to give adequate notice before laying them off, following its acquisition by Elon Musk, must pursue their claims in private arbitration.
Judge Donato reportedly granted Twitter’s request to force the five ex-employees to pursue their claims individually, citing agreements they signed with the company.
Twitter did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment.
The judge left the question of whether the entire class action lawsuit must be dismissed for another day “as warranted by developments in the case”, noting that three other former Twitter employees who alleged they had opted out of the company’s arbitration agreement have joined the lawsuit since it was first filed.
Shannon Liss-Riordan - the lawyer representing the plaintiffs - said last week that she had already filed 300 demands for arbitration on behalf of former Twitter employees and was likely to file hundreds more.
Those workers all reportedly claim they have not received the full severance package promised by Twitter before Mr Musk took over. Some have also alleged sex or disability discrimination.
In 2022, Judge Donato ruled that Twitter must notify the thousands of workers who were laid off after its acquisition by Mr Musk following a proposed class action accusing the company of failing to give adequate notice before terminating them.
The judge said at that time that Twitter must give workers “a succinct and plainly worded notice” before asking them to sign severance agreements waiving their ability to sue the company,
Twitter laid off roughly 3,700 employees in early November in a cost-cutting measure by Mr Musk. Hundreds more subsequently resigned.
In December 2022, Twitter also received further accusations from dozens of former employees of various legal violations stemming from Musk’s takeover of the company, including the alleged targeting of women for layoffs and failing to pay promised severance.
In addition, Twitter is facing at least three complaints filed with a US labour board claiming workers were fired for criticising the company, attempting to organise a strike and other conduct protected by federal labour law.
Source: CNN
(Links and quotes via original reporting)