The Southern District of New York recently dismissed Dodd-Frank whistleblower retaliation claims brought by an employer’s ex-President and an ex-Director pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) on res judicata grounds, determining that retaliation claims had already been decided in arbitration and that the Dodd-Frank claims filed in federal court for the first time were therefore barred. Wendt v. The BondFactor Co. LLC, No. 16-cv-7751 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 2, 2017).

Background. Plaintiffs allegedly complained to the Company’s Chief Risk Officer, the Chairman of the Finance Committee and Risk Subcommittee, and a member of the Audit Committee that the CEO had improperly expended investor funds and directed the Company to pay finder’s fees to an unlicensed individual acting as a broker-dealer. A month later, they met with the CEO to discuss his alleged conduct and their employment was subsequently terminated. They proceeded to arbitration, filing a claim of retaliation under the New York Labor Law (NYLL) (among other claims).

Rulings. The arbitrator dismissed the NYLL retaliation claim and Plaintiffs later filed a Dodd-Frank whistleblower retaliation claim in the Southern District of New York. The Company moved to dismiss the Dodd-Frank claim pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), arguing that it was barred by the doctrine of res judicata. The court noted that Dodd-Frank whistleblower retaliation claims are arbitrable, and then concluded that “[t]he facts in support of the plaintiffs’ Dodd-Frank retaliation claims are related in time, space, and origin to the facts alleged in the Demand and adjudicated during the arbitration.” Thus, according to the court, Plaintiffs could have pursued the Dodd-Frank retaliation claim in arbitration, and the court therefore granted the motion to dismiss.

Implications. This decision is yet another pronouncement that Dodd-Frank whistleblower retaliation claims are subject to arbitration and shows that the adjudication of retaliation claims in arbitration may bar Dodd-Frank claims subsequently filed in federal court.

 

Photo of Steven J. Pearlman Steven J. Pearlman

Steven J. Pearlman is a partner in the Labor & Employment Law Department, where he is Head of the Restrictive Covenants, Trade Secrets & Unfair Competition Group and Co-Head of the Whistleblowing & Retaliation Group.

Employment, Restrictive Covenant & Trade Secret, and Whistleblower…

Steven J. Pearlman is a partner in the Labor & Employment Law Department, where he is Head of the Restrictive Covenants, Trade Secrets & Unfair Competition Group and Co-Head of the Whistleblowing & Retaliation Group.

Employment, Restrictive Covenant & Trade Secret, and Whistleblower Practice. Steven’s national practice focuses on defending companies in federal and state courts and in arbitration fora against the full spectrum of employment-related claims, including claims of executives; restrictive covenant violations; employee raiding; theft of trade secrets; whistleblower retaliation under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Act and similar state laws; and wage-and-hour violations, including class, collective and PAGA actions.

Steven has successfully handled trials in multiple jurisdictions; prevailed in seeking and defending against applications for temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions; defended one of the largest Illinois-only class actions in the history of the federal courts in Illinois (over 90k putative class members); and prevailed following his oral arguments before federal and state appellate courts. He brings his litigation experience (beginning in 1998) to bear in counseling clients to minimize risk and avoid or prepare for success in litigation.

Investigations. Reporting to boards of directors, their audit committees, CEOs and in-house counsel, Steven conducts sensitive investigations and has the unusual experience of testifying in federal court in connection with investigations. His investigations have involved complaints of sexual harassment involving C-suite officers; systemic violations of employment laws and company policies; and fraud, compliance failures and unethical conduct.

Thought Leadership and Accolades. Steven was named Lawyer of the Year for Chicago Labor & Employment Litigation in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. He is a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. Chambers has reported:

  • Steven is “one of the best in the country and has a lot of experience”;
  • Steven is as an “outstanding lawyer” who is “very sharp and very responsive,” a “strong advocate,” and an “expert in his field”;
  • He is thoughtful, attentive and demonstrates an acute understanding of matters top of mind for business-minded general counsel; and
  • “He is someone who can navigate the twists and turns of litigation without difficulty.”

Steven was 1 of 12 individuals selected by Compliance Week as a “Top Mind.” Earlier in his career, he was 1 of 5 U.S. lawyers selected by Law360 as a ”Rising Star Under 40” in the area of employment law and 1 of “40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch” selected by Law Bulletin Publishing Company. Steven is a U.S. Library of Congress Burton Award Winner for “Distinguished Legal Writing.”

Steven was appointed to Law360’s Employment Editorial Advisory Board and selected as a Contributor to Forbes.com. He has appeared on Bloomberg News (television and radio) and Yahoo! Finance, and is often quoted in leading publications such as The Wall Street Journal. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has engaged Steven to serve as lead counsel on amicus briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court and federal circuit courts of appeal.

In 2024, Steven received the Excellence in Pro Bono Service Award from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.

Read more about Steven J. PearlmanEmail
Show more Show less