T I M O T H Y SH O RT S,

P la intif f

,

v

.

P ARSO NS T RANSP O RT AT I O N

G RO UP

, I NC

. ,

Def enda nt

. UNIT E D ST AT E S DIST RI C T C O URT

F O R T H E DI ST RI C T O F C O L UM B I A

C iv il Ac t io n 0 9

- 0 1 5 7 1 ( H H K )

M E M O RANDU M O P I NI O N

T i m o th y Sh o r

ts b r i n g s th i s acti o n ag ai

n s t Par s o n s T

r an s p o r tati o n Gr o u p ( “ Par s o n s ”)

,

ass er ti n g cau s es o f acti o n b ased u p o n Par s o n s ’ al l eg ed v i o l ati o n s o f th e Fam i l y M ed i cal L eav e

Act ( “ FML A”)

, 2 9 U

. S.C. § 2 6 0 1 et s eq

. , s tem m i n g f r o m h i s em p l o y m en t w i

th an d ter m i n ati o n

b y Par s o n s

. B ef

o r e th e C o u r

t i s Par s o n s ’ m o ti o n to d i s m i s s an d to co m p el ar b i tr ati o n [ # 3 ] u n d er

th e Fed er al Ar

b i tr ati o n Act ( “ FAA”)

, 9 U

. S.C. § 1 et s eq

. U p o n co n s i d er ati o n o f th e m o ti o n

, th e

o p p o s i ti o n th er eto

, an d th e r eco r d o f th i s case, th e C o u r t c o n cl u d es th at th e m o ti o n m u s t b e

g r an ted

.

I

. B AC K G RO UND

Sh o r ts was h i r ed b y Par s o n s i

n 2 0 0 4 as a B u s i

n ess Dev el o p m en t M an ag er

. B ef o r e

b eg i n n i n g h i s em p l o y m en t w i

th Par s o n s

, h e s i g n ed th e f o l l o wi n g “ o f f er l etter ”:

B y s i g n i n g th i s l etter

, y o u ack

n o wl ed g e th at y o u r ass o ci ati o n wi th Par s o n s i s

b ased o n th e m u tu al co n s en t o f y o u an d Par s o n s

. . . . [ I ] n th e ev en t th at co n f l i cts

ar i s e, Par s o n s h as a th r ee- s tep E m p l o y ee Di s p u te R eso l u ti o n ( E DR ) Pr o g r am

. T h e E DR Pr o g

r am i n cl u d es Fr eed o m o f E x p r ess i o n an d Ap p eal

, M ed i ati o n

, an d

Ar b i tr ati o n as th e ex cl

u s i v e m ean s o f r eso l

v i n g wo r k p l ace d i s p u tes

. B y acc ep ti n gem p l o y m en t, y o u agr ee to r eso l v e al l l eg al cl ai

m s ag ai n s t Par s o n s th r o u g h th i s

p r o cess i n s tead o f th e co u r

t sy s tem

.

Def

. ’ s M o t. to Di s m i s s E x

. A, Attach

. 2 at 2

. Sh o r ts al s o s i g n ed an “ E m p l o y ee Ag r eem en t” wi th

r eg ar d to th e E DR Pr o g r am th at s tated :

I h er eb y wai

v e m y r i g h t to g o to co u r

t r eg ar d i n g l eg al l y p r o tected r i g h ts

, an d

u n d er s tan d

, agr ee an d ack n o wl ed g e I wi l l n o t b e ab l e to h av e a tr i al b y ju r y f o r

cl ai m s r el ati n g to th o s e r i g h ts

. I n s tead

, b y acc ep ti n g an d co n ti

n u i n g em p l o y m en t,

I agr ee to u ti l i ze th e d i s p u te r eso l u ti o n p r o v i s i o n s o f

f er ed b y th e E DR Pr o g r am

.

Def

. ’ s M o t. to Di s m i s s E x

. A, Attach

. 3 ¶ 3

. I n ad d i ti o n to b ei

n g p r o v i d ed to em p l o y ees a t th e

o u ts et o f th ei

r em p l o y m en t, th e ter

m s o f th e E DR Pr o g r am was a l s o av ai l ab l e o n l i n e.

On J an u ar

y 7

, 2 0 0 9

, Sh o r

ts u n d er wen t r eco n s tr

u cti v e k n ee s u r g er

y an d was g

r an ted l eav e

f r o m J an u ar

y 7

, 2 0 0 9

, th r o u g h Ap r i l 1

, 2 0 0 9

, u n d er th e FML A f o r h i s s u r g er

y

, r ecu p er ati o n

, an d

r eh ab i l i tati o n

. W h en Sh o r

ts r etu r n ed f r o m h i s l eav e o n Ap r i l 1

, 2 0 0 9

, Gi n g er E v an s

, th e Av i ati o n

Di v i s i o n M an ag er

, p l ace d h i m o n “ n o f

l y ” s tatu s

, Pl

. ’ s Op p ’ n to Def

. ’ s M o t. to Di s m i s s ( “ Pl

. ’ s 1

Op p ’ n ) E x

. 1 ¶ 4

, an d to l d h i m th at “ h e was n o t to m eet wi th p o ten ti al cu s to m er s f

o r Av i ati o n ’ s

acti v e p u r s u i ts

. ” I d

. Sh o r

ts al l eg es th at th e r est r i cti o n s s ev er el y l i m i ted h i s ab i l i

ty to p er f o r m h i s

jo b

.

Sh o r

tl y af ter tal k i n g wi th E v an s

, o n Ap r i l 2 4

, 2 0 0 9

, Sh o r ts m et wi th R o b er t B ax

, a Sen i o r

Vi ce Pr esi d en t, an d a Par s o n s E th i cs Of f i cer

, to d i s cu s s th e r est r i cti o n s th at h ad b een p l ace d o n

h i m an d th e co n n ecti o n th e r est r i cti o n s m ay h av e h ad to h i s FML A l eav e. Sh o r ts s tates th at h e

u n d er s to o d B ax wo u l d “ l o o k i n to th e m atter

, ” b u t th at B ax n ev er “ p r o v i d e[ d ] g u i d an ce o r

s u g g est [ ed ] th e u s e o f d ef en d an ts ’ E m p l o y ee Di s p u te R eso l u ti o n p r o g r am ” to h i

m

. I d

. ¶ 6

.

I t i s u n cl ear f

r o m th e r eco r d wh at ex actl y i s m ean t b y “ n o f

l y ” s tatu s

. 1

2On Ap r i l 2 7

, 2 0 0 9

, E v an s an n o u n ced th at s o m eo n e h ad b een h i r ed to ass u m e Sh o r

ts ’

d u ti es o n a f

u l l

- ti m e b asi s

. Sh o r

ts m et wi th th e Sen i o r Hu m an R eso u r ce R ep r esen tati v e, Stef an i

C al i f an o

, o n M ay 2 0

, 2 0 0 9 an d ex p r ess ed co n cer n ab o u t h i s p o s i

ti o n af ter th e h i r i n g o f a n ew

B u s i n ess Dev el o p m en t L ead

. He to l d C al i f an o th at “ n o o th er f

u l l

- ti m e p er m an en t p o s i

ti o n s wer e

b ei n g p r esen ted to [ h i

m ] b y M s

. E v an s

, ” I d

. ¶ 8

, an d ex p l ai n ed th e r est r i cti o n s th at h ad b een

p l ace d o n h i

m

. Sh o r ts al s o s tated th at h e th o u g h t th at h e wo u l d b e f i r ed i f E v an s b eca

m e awa r e

o f h i s co n v er s ati o n wi

th B ax

. Sh o r

ts al l eg es th at C al i f

an o p r o v i d ed n o g

u i d an ce an d at n o p o i

n t

s u g g est ed th e u s e o f Par s o n s ’ E m p l o y ee Di s p u te R eso l u ti o n p r o g r am

.

On J u n e 1 0

, 2 0 0 9

, C al i f

an o n o ti f i ed Sh o r ts th at h e was b ei

n g ter m i n ated

. Sh o r

ts ag ai n

al l eg es th at C al i f

an o f ai l ed to s u g g est th e u s e o f Par s o n s ’ E DR p r o g r am

, ev en th o u g h h e to l d h er

th at h e h ad n o t r ece i

v ed an y g u i d an ce o n h o w to d i s p u te th e acti o n s tak en b y E v an s

. On J u n e

2 3

, 2 0 0 9

, Sh o r

ts r ece i v ed a l etter ter

m i n ati n g h i s em p l o y m en t w i

th Par s o n s ef

f ecti v e J u l y 1 6

,

2 0 0 9

.

T h r ee d ay s l ater

, Sh o r

ts ’ atto r n ey s en t a l etter to J am es Sh ap p el l

, Pr esi d en t o f Par s o n s

,

al l eg i n g v i o l ati o n s o f th e FML A an d r eq u est i n g to s p eak wi

th s o m eo n e p r i o r to Sh o r ts ’

ter m i n ati o n

. Sh o r

ts ’ atto r n ey s en t a f

o l l o w- u p l etter o n J u l

y 1 4

, 2 0 0 9 af

ter n o t r ece i

v i n g a

r esp o n s e. On J u l

y 1 6

, 2 0 0 9

, Par s o n s r ep l i ed th r o u g h em ai l s f r o m R i ch ar d R ed d y

, Vi ce Pr esi d en t

an d As s o ci ate Gen er al C o u n s el

, an d M i ch el l e J o h n s o n

, E m p l o y ee R el ati o n s M an ag er

. T h e

em ai l s f r o m R ed d y an d J o h n s o n r ef er r ed Sh o r ts ’ atto r n ey to Par s o n s ’ E DR m ater i al s

. I n r el ev an t

p ar t, J o h n s o n ’ s em ai l r ead

, “ I am f o r war d i n g th e Par s o n s ’ E DR m ater i al s an d i n f o r m ati o n an d

r ev i ew.

. . . [ As n o ted b y R i ch ar d R ed d y i n h i s p r ev i o u s em ai l ]

, i

t i s a co n d i

ti o n o f em p l o y m en t

th at em p l o y ees u ti l i ze th e co m p an y ’ s E DR p r o g r am to r eso l

v e em p l o y m en t- r el ated d i s p u tes

. ”

Pl

. ’ s Op p ’ n E x

. 5 at 1

.

3I I

. ANALYS I S

A. L eg a l St a nda rd

W h en a p ar

ty m o v es to d i s m i s s an d co m p el ar b i tr ati o n

, h e ef

f ecti v el y r ai s es th e i s s u e o f

wh eth er th er e was a m eeti n g o f th e m i

n d s o n th e agr eem en t to ar b i tr ate, an d th e s tan d ar d s f

o r

r eso l v i n g a s u m m ar

y ju d g m en t m o ti o n p u r s u an t to Fed er al R u l e o f C i v i l Pr o ced u r e 5 6 ar e

th er ef o r e ap p l i ed

. B o o ker v

. R o b ert Ha l f I n t ’ l

, I n c

. , 3 1 5 F. Su p p

. 2 d 9 4

, 9 9 ( D. D. C

. 2 0 0 4 )

( ci tati o n o m i

tted ) ; s ee a l

s o B r o w n v. Do r s ey & W h i t n ey, LLP

, 2 6 7 F. Su p p

. 2 d 6 1

, 6 7 ( D. D. C

.

2 0 0 3 ) ( “ [ T ] h e p r o p er ap p r o ach to em p l o y i n r ev i ewi n g th e d ef

en d an t’ s m o ti o n to d i s m i s s an d

co m p el ar b i tr ati o n i s to ap p l

y th e s am e s tan d ar d o f r ev i ew th at g o v er n s Ru l e 5 6 m o ti o n s

. ”)

.

T h er ef o r e, i t i s ap p r o p r i ate to g

r an t a p ar ty ’ s m o ti o n to co m p el ar

b i tr ati o n wh en th e p l ead i

n g s

an d th e ev i d en ce d em o n s tr ate th at “ th er e i s n o g en u i n e i s s u e as to an y m ater i al f act an d th at th e

m o v i n g p ar ty i s en ti tl ed to ju d g m en t a s a m atter o f l aw. ” Fed

. R

. C i v

. P. 5 6 ( c)

.

B

. T he F AA

T h e FAA p r o v i d es th at “ [ a] wr i tten p r o v i s i o n i

n

. . . a co n tr act ev i d en ci

n g a tr an s acti o n

i n v o l v i n g co m m er ce to s ettl e b y ar b i tr ati o n a co n tr o v er s y th er eaf ter ar i s i n g o u t o f s u ch co n tr act

o r tr an s acti o n

. . . s h al l b e v al i d

, i r r ev o cab l e, an d en f

o r cea b l e, s av e u p o n s u ch g r o u n d s as ex i s t at

l aw o r i n eq u i ty f o r th e r ev o cati o n o f an y co n tr act. ” 9 U

. S.C. § 2

. T h e q u est i o n o f wh eth er a

p ar ti cu l ar d i s p u te i s ar

b i tr ab l e i s “ u n d en i ab l

y an i s s u e f

o r ju d i ci al d eter

m i n ati o n

. ” A T& T Tec h s

.

v. C o mmc’

n s W o rkers o f A m.

, 4 7 5 U

. S. 6 4 3

, 6 4 9 ( 1 9 8 6 )

. T h e b asi s f o r ju d i ci al au th o r i

ty to m ak e

th i s d eter m i n ati o n l i es i

n th e f act th at ar b i tr ati o n agr eem en ts ar e s ep ar ab l e f r o m th e agr eem en ts i

n

wh i ch th ey ar e i

n co r p o r ated

. S ee P

r i ma P a i n t Co r p

. v. F l o o d & C o n kl

i n Mf g

. C o

. , 3 8 8 U

. S. 3 9 5

,

4 0 3

– 0 4 ( 1 9 6 7 ) ; s ee a l

s o B u cke ye C h eck Ca s h i n g

, I n c. v. Ca r d eg n a

, 5 4 6 U

. S. 4 4 0

, 4 4 5 ( 2 0 0 6 )

4( d escr i

b i n g P r i ma P a i n t as so h o l d i

n g )

. T h u s

, i t i s wel l s ettl ed th at a co u r t m ay d i s m i s s an acti o n

al to g eth er wh er e “ al l i s s u es r ai s ed i n th e co m p l ai

n t m u s t b e s u b m i

tted to ar b i tr ati o n

. ” E

mero n ye

v. C A C I I n t ’ l

, I n c.

, 1 4 1 F. Su p p

. 2 d 8 2

, 8 8 ( D. D. C

. 2 0 0 1 )

.

A s tr o n g p o l i cy f

av o r i n g al ter n ati v e m ean s o f d i s p u te r eso l u ti o n th r o u g h ar

b i tr ati o n

s u p p o r ts a p r esu m p ti o n o f ar

b i tr ab i l i ty

. Mo s es H. C o n e Mem’ l Ho s p

. v. Mer cu r

y Co n s t r

.

C o r p

. , 4 6 0 U

. S. 1

, 2 4

– 2 5 ( 1 9 8 3 )

. Ho wev er

, “ th e FAA d o es n o t r eq u i r e p ar ti es to ar b i tr ate wh en

th ey h av e n o t a g r eed to d o s o

. ” V o l t I n fo

. S ci s

. , I n c. v. B d

. o

f Trs

. o f Lel a n d S t a n fo r d Jr. Un i v.

,

4 8 9 U

. S. 4 6 8

, 4 7 8 ( 1 9 8 9 ) ( ci tati o n o m i

tted )

. I n d eed

, th e o v er

r i d i n g p u r p o s e o f th e FAA i s n o t

ju d i ci al eco n o m y o r th e ex p ed i ti o u s r eso l

u ti o n o f cl ai

m s

, b u t th e en f

o r cem en t o f agr eem en ts i n to

wh i ch p ar ti es h av e en ter ed

. Dea n W i t t er R eyn o l

d s

, I n c. v. B

yrd

, 4 7 0 U

. S. 2 1 3

, 2 1 9

– 2 0 ( 1 9 8 5 )

.

As ar ti cu l ated b y th e Su p r em e C o u r t, “ ar b i tr ati o n i s a m atter o f co n tr act an d a p ar ty can n o t b e

r eq u i r ed to s u b m i

t to ar b i tr ati o n an y d i s p u te wh i ch h e h as n o t a g r eed s o to s u b m i t.” A T& T

Tech s

. , 4 7 5 U

. S. at 6 4 8 ( ci tati o n s o m i

tted )

.

1

. W a iv er o f t he rig ht t o a rbit ra t e.

T h e r i g h t to ar

b i tr ate i s a co n tr actu al r i g h t a n d

, l i k e an y o th er co n tr actu al r i g h t, i t c an b e

wai v ed

. N a t ’ l F o u n d

. fo r C

a n cer R esea r ch v. A

. G. E d w a r d s & S o n s

, I n c.

, 8 2 1 F.2 d 7 7 2

, 7 7 4

( D. C

. C i r

. 1 9 8 7 ) ( ci

ti n g C o r n el

l & C o

. v. B a r b er & R o s s C o

. , 3 6 0 F.2 d 5 1 2

, 5 1 3 ( D. C

. C i r

. 1 9 6 6 ) )

.

T h e cen tr al q u est i o n i

n d eter m i n i n g i f wai v er h as o ccu r

r ed i s wh eth er “ u n d er th e to tal i ty o f th e

ci r cu m s tan ces, th e d ef

au l ti n g p ar ty h as ac ted i

n co n s i s ten tl

y wi th th e ar b i tr ati o n r i g h t.” N

a t ’ l

F o u n d a t i o n

, 8 2 1 F.2 d at 7 7 4 ( ci ti n g C o r n el

l & C o

. , 3 6 0 P.2 d at 5 1 3 )

. A p ar ty i s g en er al l

y d eem ed

to h av e wai

v ed i ts r i g h t to ar

b i tr ate wh er e i

t m ak es u s e o f th e ju d i ci al p r o cess b ef o r e attem p ti

n g to

ex er ci s e i ts r i g h t to ar

b i tr ate. S ee K

h a n v. P a r s o n s Gl o b a l S ervs

. , Lt d

. , 5 2 1 F.3 d 4 2 1

, 4 2 4

- 2 5

, 4 2 8

5( D. C

. C i

r

. 2 0 0 8 ) ( h o l d i

n g d ef en d an t w ai

v ed ar b i tr ati o n r i g h t b y m o v i

n g f o r s u m m ar

y ju d g m en t) ;

N a t ’ l F o u n d

. , 8 2 1 F.2 d at 7 7 5 ( h o l d i n g d ef en d an t w ai

v ed ar b i tr ati o n r i g h t b eca

u s e i t f i l ed an s wer

to co m p l ai

n t a s s er ti n g f i f teen af f i r m ati v e d ef en s es, en g ag ed i

n ex ten s i v e d i s co v er

y

, an d m o v ed

f o r s u m m ar

y ju d g m en t b ef

o r e r eq u est i

n g ar b i tr ati o n )

. T

h u s

, wh er e a p ar

ty “ h as m ad e a d eci s i o n

to tak e ad v an tag e o f th e ju d i ci al s y s tem

. . . [ i t] s h o u l d n o t b e ab l e th er eaf ter to s eek co m p el l ed

ar b i tr ati o n

. ” K

h a n

, 5 2 1 F.3 d

. at 4 2 7

.

2

. P a rs o ns did no t wa iv e it s rig ht t o a rbit ra t io n.

Sh o r ts co n ced es th at th e p ar

ti es en ter ed i

n to a v al i d an d en f

o r cea b l e ar b i tr ati o n agr eem en t

an d th at th e ar

b i tr ati o n agr eem en t e n co m p ass es th e cl ai m s r ai s ed i

n th e co m p l ai

n t. Sh o r ts

n ev er th el ess ar g

u es th at Par s o n s wai

v ed i ts r i g h t to ar

b i tr ate b y acti

n g “ i n co n s i s ten tl

y ” wi th th e

em p l o y ee d i s p u te r eso l

u ti o n agr eem en t b y ( 1 ) “ r ep eate d l y r eb u f f i n g ” h i s ef f o r ts to r eso l v e h i s

co m p l ai n t i n

- h o u s e, ( 2 ) “ r ep eate d l

y i g n o r i n g ” h i s atto r

n ey ’ s attem p t to “ i

n i ti ate a d i al o g

u e

co n cer n i n g [ Sh o r ts ’ ] r em o v al

, ” an d ( 3 ) ter

m i n ati n g h i m p r i o r to tak

i n g an y s tep s to r eso l

v e h i s

co m p l ai n t. Pl

. ’ s Op p ’ n at 6

- 7

.

Sh o r ts ’ ar g u m en t th at Par s o n s wai

v ed i ts r i g h t to ar

b i tr ati o n can n o t b e s u s tai

n ed f o r th e

s i m p l e r easo n th at Sh o r

ts d o es n o t i d en ti f

y an y acti o n Par s o n s to o k u n d er th e ar b i tr ati o n

agr eem en t th at r eq u i

r ed Par s o n s to d o an y th i

n g m o r e th at i

t d i d

. Hi s ass er

ti o n s an d

ch ar acte r i zati o n s r eg ar d i

n g th e ci r cu m s tan ces, n o n e s u p p o r ted b y r ef er en ce to au th o r i

ty o r th e

s p eci f i c ter m s o f th e ar

b i tr ati o n s agr eem en t, ar e i

n s u f f i ci en t. I n d eed

, Sh o r

ts d o es n o t e v en

attem p t to l i

n k an y acti o n o n Par s o n s ’ p ar t th at was n o t i

n acc o r d an ce wi

th th e ter m s o f th e

d i s p u te r eso l

u ti o n agr eem en t.

6T

h e E DR agr eem en t states th at “ [ t] h r ee [ s ] tep s ar e av ai l ab l e to em p l o y ees f o r r eso l v i n g

wo r k

- r el ated d i s p u tes

. ” Def

. ’ s M o t. to Di s m i s s E x

. A, Attach

. 1 at 3

. T h e f i r s t step i s en ti

tl ed

“ Fr eed o m o f E x p r ess i o n & Ap p eal

. ” I n th i s s tep

, em p l o y ees c an r ai s e co n cer n s wi th a s u p er v i s o r

o r a Hu m an R eso u r ces r ep r esen tati v e. T h e agr eem en t e x p r ess l

y s tates th at “ I f th ese d i s cu s s i o n s

d o n o t r eso l

v e th e p r o b l em

, Fr eed o m o f E x p r ess i o n & Ap p eal o f f er s th r ee f o r m al p r o ced u r al

acti o n s

. ” I d

. at 9

. Fi

r s t, th e em p l o y ee can s u b m i t a Fr eed o m o f E x p r ess i o n & Ap p eal Fo r m

d escr i b i n g h er p o s i

ti o n an d th e r el i ef s o u g h t. On ce th e f o r m i s s u b m i

tted

, “ [ t] h e em p l o y ee’ s

s u p er v i s o r

, i n co n ju n cti o n wi

th a Hu m an R eso u r ces r ep r esen tati v e, wi l l ev al

u ate th e s i

tu ati o n an d

p r o v i d e th e em p l o y ee wi

th a wr i tten r esp o n s e to th e o r i g i

n al f i l i n g wi th i n ten ( 1 0 ) wo r

k i n g d ay s

. ”

I d

. I f th e em p l o y ee i s u n s ati s f i ed wi th th e r esp o n s e, h e o r s h e m ay th en ap p eal to th e Of f i ce

M an ag er i n s tep two

, an d to th e HR Di r ecto r an d Pr esi d en t o f th e B u s i n ess U n i t i n s tep th r ee.

B o th s tep s two an d th r ee, l i k e s tep o n e, r eq u i

r e a wr i tten r esp o n s e to th e em p l o y ee’ s f o r m wi th i n

ten d ay s

.

T h e o b l i g ati o n to p r o v i d e a wr i tten r esp o n s e, an d f

o r Par s o n s th er eaf

ter to tak e

s u b s eq u en t a cti o n s to ad d r ess a wo r k

- r el ated d i s p u te, co m es ab o u t o n l y wh en a Fr eed o m o f

E x p r ess i o n & Ap p eal s Fo r m i s s u b m i

tted

. T h e ag r eem en t i m p o s es n o s u ch o b l i g ati o n o n

Par s o n s i f an em p l o y ee s i m p l y r ai s es a d i s p u te o r al l

y wi th a s u p er v i s o r

, as Sh o r

ts d i d

.

Desp i te th e s i g n i f i can ce o f th e Fr eed o m o f E x p r ess i o n & Ap p eal s Fo r m

, Sh o r ts ’

o p p o s i ti o n m em o r an d u m r ed u ces i t to a s i n g l e f o o tn o te. Sh o r

ts s tates th at “ [ h e] d i d n o t

co m p l ete th e ‘ Fr eed o m o f E x p r ess i o n Ap p eal Fo r m

, ’ b u t n ei

th er was h e ad v i s ed at an y o f th ese

7m eeti

n g s

. . . th at co m p l eti

n g th e f o r m was a m an d ato r

y p r er eq u i s i

te f o r r eso l v i n g a d i s p u te. ” 2

Pl

. ’ s Op p ’ n at 6 n

. 1

. Sh o r ts ’ ar g u m en t i s u n p er s u asi v e. Fi r s t, th e E DR Pr o g r am p r o ced u r es

i m p o s e n o o b l i g ati o n o n Par s o n s to ad v i s e em p l o y ees o f i ts co n ten ts

. T

h e o r al co m m u n i cati o n

p o r ti o n o f th e Fr eed o m o f E x p r ess i o n an d Ap p eal s tep co n tem p l ates a n i n f o r m al d i s cu s s i o n

b etwee n th e em p l o y ee an d m an ag em en t, b u t n o wh er e d o es i t r eq u i r e th at m an ag em en t f

u r n i s h

th e em p l o y ee wi

th a co p y o f th e E DR Pr o g r am o r af f i r m ati v el y r eco m m en d f

u r th er s tep s b y th e

em p l o y ee. S ee Def

. ’ s M o t. to Di s m i s s E x

. A, Attach

. 1 at 9

. Seco n d

, as a g en er al r u l e, “ o n e wh o

s i g n s a co n tr act h as a d u ty to r ead i t, an d i s b o u n d b y i

ts p r o v i s i o n s i f h e h ad th e o p p o r tu n i ty to

r ead an d u n d er s tan d i

t.” S t a n w o o d v. W

el ch

, 9 2 2 F. Su p p

. 6 3 5

, 6 4 0 ( D. D. C

. 1 9 9 5 ) ( ci ti n g

McN u l t y v. Med

. S erv. o

f t h e Di s t

. o

f Co l u mb i a

, 1 8 9 A. 2 d 1 2 5

, 1 2 8 ( D. C

. 1 9 6 3 ) )

. M o r eo v er

,

wh er e an em p l o y ee h as si g n ed an em p l o y m en t a g r eem en t a n d th e agr eem en t i s m ad e av ai l ab l e

b y th e em p l o y er th r o u g

h r eso u r ces su ch as th e co m p an y i n tr an et, i t i s th e em p l o y ee’ s

r esp o n s i b i l i ty to f am i l i ar i ze h er s el f wi

th th e r el ev an t p o l i ci es. S ee Ma r t i n v. C i t i b a n k, I n c.

, 5 6 7 F.

Su p p

. 2 d 3 6

, 4 2 ( D. D. C

. 2 0 0 8 )

. Her e, Sh o r ts s i g n ed b o th th e em p l o y m en t o f f er an d th e

em p l o y ee agr eem en t w i

th r esp ect to th e E DR Pr o g r am

. E m p l o y ees w er e p r o v i d ed wi th th e

Pr o g r am p r o ced u r es at th e o u ts et o f th ei r em p l o y m en t; th ey wer e al s o av ai l ab l e to em p l o y ees

o n l i n e. Sh o r ts

, th er ef o r e, b o r e th e r esp o n s i

b i l i ty to b e f am i l i ar wi th th e p o l i ci es an d Par s o n s was

n o t o b l i g ated

, u n d er ei

th er th e E DR p o l i ci es o r g en er al co n tr act p r i n ci p l es, to “ ad v i s e” h i

m o f th e

E DR Pr o g r am r eq u i

r em en ts

.

Sh o r ts ’ co u n s el d o es n o t c h ar acte r i zes th e Fr eed o m o f E x p r ess i o n & Ap p eal s 2

Fo r m co r r ectl y

. T h e f o r m i s n o t “ a m an d ato r

y p r er eq u i s i

te f o r r eso l v i n g a d i s p u te, ” Pl

. ’ s Op p ’ n

at 6 n

. 1

, u n d er th e E DR p r o ced u r es. R ath er

, i t i s th e o n l

y acti o n wi

th i n th e Fr eed o m o f

E x p r ess i o n & Ap p eal s s tep th at o b l i g es Par s o n s to f o r m al l y r esp o n d to an em p l o y ee’ s g r i ev an ce.

8Fu r th er m o r e, u n d er th e E DR Pr o g r am p r o ced u r es, Sh o r ts was e n ti

tl ed to b y p ass th e

Fr eed o m o f E x p r ess i o n & Ap p eal s s tep an d p r o cee d to th e s eco n d s tep

, M ed i ati o n

. W i th 3

r esp ect to M ed i ati o n

, “ [ a] n y p ar ty to an em p l o y m en t d i s p u te ma y i n i ti ate m ed i ati o n b y f

i l i n g

M ed i ati o n /Ar

b i tr ati o n R eq u est Fo r

m wi th th e Par s o n s Di s p u te R eso l u ti o n Sp eci al i s t.” Def

. ’ s

M o t. to Di s m i s s E x

. A, Attach

. 1 at 1 0 ( em p h asi s ad d ed )

. I n s o f ar as Sh o r ts s eek s to i

m p o s e u p o n

Par s o n s a d u ty to i

n i ti ate p r o cee d i

n g s to r eso l

v e an em p l o y ee’ s g r i ev an ce, Sh o r ts wo u l d h av e th e

C o u r t r ead th e p r o v i s i o n to s ay “ th e em p l o y er mu s t i n i ti ate m ed i ati o n

. ” Su ch a r ead i n g i s

u n war r an ted an d wo u l d al

ter th e p l ai

n l an g u ag e o f th e agr eem en t. T h u s

, Sh o r ts h ad ev er

y r i g h t to

i n i ti ate m ed i ati o n b y s u b m i

tti n g a M ed i ati o n /Ar

b i tr ati o n R eq u est Fo r

m

, b u t h e d i d n o t d o s o

.

An d

, u n d er th e p l ai

n ter m s o f th e E DR p r o g r am

, Par s o n s was n o t o b l i g ated to i n i ti ate m ed i ati o n

.

I n s u m

, Par s o n s was u n d er n o o b l i g ati o n to : ( 1 ) r esp o n d f o r m al l y to Sh o r ts ’ co n s u l tati o n s

wi th m an ag em en t a

n d Hu m an R eso u r ces, ( 2 ) en s u r e th at Sh o r ts was a war e o f th e E DR p o l i ci es

an d p r o ced u r es, o r ( 3 ) i

n i ti ate m ed i ati o n p r o cee d i

n g s

. T h er ef o r e, th er e i s n o m er i

t to Sh o r ts ’

ar g u m en t th at Par s o n s acte d “ i n co n s i s ten tl

y wi th th e r i g h t to ar

b i tr ate. ” N a t ’ l F o u n d a t i o n

, 8 2 1

F.2 d at 7 7 4

.

Sh o r ts al s o al l eg es th at Par s o n s b r eac h ed th e d i s p u te r eso l u ti o n ag r eem en t w h en i

t

“ r ep eate d l

y i g n o r e[ ed ] ” Sh o r

ts ’ atto r n ey ’ s attem p t to “ i

n i ti ate a d i al o g

u e co n cer n i n g [ Sh o r ts ’ ]

r em o v al

. ” Pl

. ’ s Op p ’ n at 6

. T h e p r o b l em f

o r Sh o r ts i s th at th e agr eem en t d i d n o t r eq u i r e Par s o n s

T h e E DR Pr o g

r am p r o ced u r es p r o v i d e th at th e Fr eed o m o f E x p r ess i o n & Ap p eal s 3

s tep i s en co u r ag ed

, b u t n o t r eq u i r ed

. Def

. ’ s M o t. to Di s m i s s E x

. A, Attach

. 1 at 3

. No t o n l y th at,

b u t “ [ i ] f th e em p l o y ee i s ter m i n ated

, th e em p l o y ee u n i l ater al l y h as th e o p ti o n to b y p ass th e

Fr eed o m o f E x p r ess i o n & Ap p eal Step an d p r o cee d d i r ectl y to m ed i ati o n an d th en ar b i tr ati o n f o r

i s s u es r el ated to h i s o r h er ter m i n ati o n ” I d

. at 4

. I n o th er wo r d s

, o n ce Sh o r ts was ter m i n ated h e

h ad two o p ti o n s : f

i l e a Fr eed o m o f E x p r ess i o n & Ap p eal s Fo r m o r b y p ass th at s tep an d i n i ti ate

m ed i ati o n

. Sh o r

ts d i d n ei th er

.

9to “ d i al o g

u e” wi th h i s atto r

n ey

. U n d er th e ter

m s o f th e E DR Pr o g r am

, Sh o r ts an d h i s atto r

n ey

co u l d h av e ei

th er s u b m i

tted th e Fr eed o m o f E x p r ess i o n & Ap p eal s Fo r m o r u n i l ater al l

y i n i ti ated

m ed i ati o n

. I n d eed

, Par s o n s ev en p r o v i d ed Sh o r ts ’ atto r n ey wi th th e E DR Pr o g r am i

n i ts

r esp o n s e em ai l o n J u l

y 1 6

, 2 0 0 9

. No th i

n g m o r e was r eq u i

r ed o f Par s o n s

.

Fi n al l y

, Sh o r ts co n ten d s th at Par s o n s v i o l ated th e d i s p u te r eso l u ti o n agr eem en t wh en i

t

r ef u s ed to tak e an y s tep s to r eso l v e h i s co m p l ai

n t b ef o r e h i s ter m i n ati o n

. T o r ei

ter ate, Sh o r

ts f ai l s

to s h o w th at Par s o n s d i d an y th i n g

, o r f ai l ed to d o an y th i

n g

, th at was n o t i

n acc o r d an ce wi

th th e

d i s p u te r eso l

u ti o n agr eem en t. I n th e ab s en ce o f s u ch a s h o wi n g th er e i s n o b asi s f

o r ar g u i n g th at

Par s o n s “ d i d n o t tak e s tep s ”—at l east n o n e o f an y l eg al co n s eq u en ce—to r eso l v e h i s co m p l ai

n t.

T h er e i s s i m p l y n o th i n g i n th e E DR Pr o g

r am th at r eq u i

r es Par s o n s to f

i r s t settl e g r i ev an ces w i

th

em p l o y ees b ef

o r e ter m i n ati n g th ei r em p l o y m en t. I n d eed

, th e E DR Pr o g r am cl ear l y co n tem p l ates

th at an em p l o y ee m ay b e ter m i n ated p r i o r to th e r eso l

u ti o n o f a d i s p u te. Secti o n I ( B ) s tates th at

“ [ i ] f an em p l o y ee i s ter

m i n ated

, th e em p l o y ee u n i l ater al l y h as th e o p ti o n to b y p ass th e Fr eed o m

o f E x p r ess i o n & Ap p eal Step an d p r o cee d d i r ectl y to m ed i ati o n an d th en ar b i tr ati o n f o r i s s u es

r el ated to h i s o r h er ter

m i n ati o n

. ” Def

. ’ s M o t. to Di s m i s s E x

. A, Attach

. 1 at 4

. T h u s

, ter m i n ati o n

m ay co n s ti

tu te a d i s p u te to b e r eso l

v ed th r o u g h th e E DR p r o cess

, b u t i t i s n o t a v i o l ati o n o f th e

p r o cess i ts el f

. Par s o n s ’ ter

m i n ati o n o f Sh o r

ts b ef o r e attem p ti

n g to r eso l

v e h i s co m p l ai

n t, 1

th er ef o r e, d i d n o t b r eac h th e d i s p u te r eso l u ti o n agr eem en t a

n d was n o t i

n co n s i s ten t w i

th Par s o n s ’

r i g h t to ar b i tr ate Sh o r ts ’ g r i ev an ce.

Sh o r ts ’ co n ten ti o n th at Par s o n s ter m i n ated h i m i n r etal i ati o n f

o r h i s m ak

i n g cl ai m s 1

b ased o n th e FML A i s n o t r el ev an t to th e i s s u e o f wh eth er Par s o n s wai v ed i ts r i g h t to ar

b i tr ati o n

. W h eth er Par s o n s ter

m i n ated Sh o r

ts i n r etal i ati o n f

o r i n v o k i n g h i s r i g h ts u n d er th e FML A i s a

p r o p er s u b

ject f o r ar b i tr ati o n

.

1 0I I I

. C O NC L USI O N

Fo r th e f o r eg o i n g r easo n s

, th e C o u r

t c o n cl u d es th at Par s o n s ’ m o ti o n to d i s m i s s an d to

co m p el ar b i tr ati o n [ # 3 ] s h o u l d b e g r an ted

. An ap p r o p r i ate o r d er acc o m p an i es th i s m em o r an d u m

o p i n i o n

.

Hen r y H. Ken n ed y

, J r

. U n i ted States Di s tr i ct J u d g e

1 1