Bellur G. Shiva Prasad v. General Electric Company, et al.

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW

1. Can an employer compel arbitration based on virtually a forced agreement taken from a desperate employment-applicant at the hiring stage, who has no option to deny signing such agreement if he needs the job; and does any such agreement not deny him/her the fundamental right to approach a Court of law, even in cases covering issues involving public policy violation by corporations designing, developing, manufacturing and selling defective products like airplane engines for use by innocent consumers/users? This issue concerning “forcing arbitration” also arises in additional no compete agreements also taken by some employers and fine print agreements taken by owners of internet websites while accessing online information.

2. In this case, the US District Court ordered arbitration of Ohio State law claims which included retaliation for both Public Policy Violation (Greeley Act) and age discrimination covered by OCRA. However, the latter issue was not considered in deposition and discussion during arbitration as it was thought to be similar to the discrimination covered by Title VII, which was stayed.