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Court Enforces Biblically Based Arbitration Agreement

By Howard M. Friedman

In Easterly v. Heritage Christian Schools., Inc., 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 76269 (SD IN, Aug. 26, 2009), an Indiana federal district court enforced a Biblically-based arbitration agreement between a high school English teacher and the Christian school at which she was employed for some 20 years before she was forced from her job. The contract required teacher Dorothy Easterly to "to resolve differences with others (parents, fellow-workers, Administration) by following the biblical pattern of Matthew 18:15-17," and if that failed to submit any controversy to mediation and binding arbitration conducted under the "Rules of Procedure for Christian Conciliation." The court rejected Easterly's claim that the arbitration agreement was vague, that it deprived her of her ability to vindicate rights protected by disability and age discrimination statutes, and that the procedures were procedurally inadequate. [Thanks to Michael Francisco for the lead.]

Full post as published by Religion Clause on September 04, 2009 (boomark / email).