Legal Question in Employment Law in New Jersey

Employment Giving up right to legal claims

I work in New Jersey and my employer released a new empoyee handbook that we are required to sign as a continuing condition of employment.

This also states the when we sign this we agree to give up the right to bring any legal claims against the company through a lawsuit in a court of law with a judge and jury.

When I sign this paper do I loose the right for legal recourse while i am working for the company or if I have been terminated and no longer work for the company


Asked on 4/01/08, 1:41 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Fred Shahrooz Scampato Law Office of Fred Shahrooz Scampato

Re: Employment Giving up right to legal claims

I take it that the handbook has a mechanism for you to bring any grievances through binding arbitration? Or are they preventing you from bringing any action against the company for any reason?

Assuming that the company is limiting you to binding arbitration, then it is possible that your signing for the handbook will extinguish your right to bring an action in court. I advise you to ask time from your employer to allow an attorney review the handbook before you agree to sign it. If you are not allowed to have time to show this to an attorney, then you may be able to later argue that you were coerced into signing the document. I wouldn't wait. Call an attorney right away.

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Answered on 4/01/08, 2:04 pm


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