On Aug. 1, 2023, Judge Ronnie Abrams of the Southern District of New York stood on the side of women by confirming that the Ending Forced Arbitration Act (EFAA)—the new law that exempts from secret arbitration any claim of "sexual harassment" or "sexual assault"—goes beyond protecting employees only in cases of rape, assault, or blatant sexual advances.

Lawrence Pearson

In denying a motion to compel arbitration of the claims of Barbara Delo, a former costume supervisor for Paul Taylor Dance Company, the court made clear—if any doubt remained—that "sexual harassment" under the EFAA does not mean only sexual assaults, sexual advances or requests for sexual favors, but can include any "unwanted gender-based conduct."

John Crain