LCW Partner Che Johnson and Associate Louis Lee Win Denial of Motion to Compel Arbitration

Two district attorney investigators were promoted and received a five percent raise. The investigators submitted grievances alleging that their title changes were reclassifications rather than promotions. They claimed that they were entitled to a ten percent salary increase under their MOU.

The county denied the grievances and the police officers’ association filed a petition to compel arbitration under the MOU. Che and Louis successfully argued that the arbitration clause the association cited was inapplicable because the MOU did not speak to reclassification procedures. The reclassification procedures were only found in the county’s personnel rules, which had no arbitration provision. The judge denied the petition to compel arbitration.