In a recent Manhattan federal court filing, Roger Ailes – the named defendant in a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson in NJ state court – seeks to compel arbitration of her claims pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act. (Here are the supporting petition and memorandum of law.)
His papers base the request on the following arbitration provision from Ms. Carlson’s employment contract:
Any controversy, claim or dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement or Performer’s [Ms. Carlson’s] employment shall be brought before a mutually selected three-member arbitration panel and held in New York City in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) then in effect. … Such arbitration, all filings, evidence and testimony connected with the arbitration, and all relevant allegations and events leading up to the arbitration, shall be held in strict confidence.