Lok Tio v. Washington Hosp. Ctr.

PHYSICIAN EMPLOYMENT/ARBITRATION

Lok Tio v. Washington Hosp. Ctr., No. 04-0701(RMU)
(D.D.C. Nov. 5, 2004)

A physician
and his wife brought suit against a hospital for a variety of claims after
his employment was terminated with cause. The United States District Court
for the District of Columbia held that the physician was bound to the arbitration
clause in his employment contract under the Federal Arbitration Act, so all
his claims must be arbitrated. His wife’s claims must also be arbitrated because
they are entirely dependent on the outcome of the physician’s claims. The court
found that the physician should be held to the terms of the agreement because
he signed the contract and negotiated additional terms of the contract, the
contract was not unconscionable, and all of the physician’s claims could be
resolved during arbitration.