Twitter's laid-off workers cannot pursue claims via class-action lawsuit, judge rules

Twitter Inc has secured a ruling allowing the societal media institution to unit respective laid-off workers suing implicit their termination to prosecute their claims via idiosyncratic arbitration than a class-action lawsuit.

U.S. District Judge James Donato connected Friday ruled that 5 erstwhile Twitter employees pursuing a projected people enactment accusing the institution of failing to springiness capable announcement earlier laying them disconnected aft its acquisition by Elon Musk indispensable prosecute their claims successful backstage arbitration.

Donato granted Twitter's petition to unit the 5 ex-employees to prosecute their claims individually, citing agreements they signed with the company.

Twitter did not instantly respond to a petition for comment.

The San Francisco justice near for different time "as warranted by developments successful the case" whether the full people enactment suit indispensable beryllium dismissed, though, arsenic helium noted 3 different erstwhile Twitter employees who alleged they had opted retired of the company's arbitration statement person joined the suit aft it was archetypal filed.

The lawyer who represents the plaintiffs, Shannon Liss-Riordan, said connected Monday that she had already filed 300 demands for arbitration connected behalf of erstwhile Twitter employees and would apt record hundreds more.

Those workers each assertion they person not received the afloat severance bundle promised by Twitter earlier Musk took over. Some person besides alleged enactment oregon disablement discrimination.

Last year, Donato had ruled that Twitter indispensable notify the thousands of workers who were laid disconnected aft its acquisition by Musk pursuing a projected people enactment accusing the institution of failing to springiness capable announcement earlier terminating them.

The justice said that earlier asking workers to motion severance agreements waiving their quality to writer the company, Twitter indispensable springiness them "a succinct and plainly worded notice".

Twitter laid disconnected astir 3,700 employees successful aboriginal November successful a cost-cutting measurement by Musk, and hundreds much subsequently resigned.

In December past year, Twitter was besides accused by dozens of erstwhile employees of assorted ineligible violations stemming from Musk's takeover of the company, including targeting women for layoffs and failing to wage promised severance.

Twitter is besides facing astatine slightest 3 complaints filed with a U.S. labour committee claiming workers were fired for criticizing the company, attempting to signifier a strike, and different behaviour protected by national labour law.