Hamilton v. Sheridan Healthcorp, Inc. (Summary)

EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION (RACE)

Hamilton v. Sheridan Healthcorp, Inc., No. 13-62008-CIV (S.D. Fla. Feb. 11, 2014)

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida granted a hospital’s motion to strike an anesthesiologist’s jury demand, finding that the anesthesiologist had knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to a jury trial when he signed his employment agreement.  The African-American anesthesiologist brought suit alleging racial discrimination after he was demoted and subsequently fired from the hospital.  His employment agreement contained a waiver of the right to a jury trial, which the court found to be conspicuous as it appeared immediately above the signature portion of the agreement, in capital letters.  The court further reasoned that the anesthesiologist was “sufficiently sophisticated” to waive his right to a jury trial as he was an educated and intelligent individual.