SAKG Obtains 8th Circuit Reversal of Order Denying Stay Pending Arbitration

After SAKG’s client Ferrellgas and two of its executives were sued by Ferrellgas’ former CMO, SAKG moved on behalf of all defendants to stay the case pending arbitration. The District Court for the Western District of Missouri denied the motion as to the individual defendants on the grounds that they personally were not parties to the employment agreement containing the arbitration provision. The 8^th Circuit reversed, agreeing with SAKG’s argument that under Missouri law (as applied by federal courts), the individual defendants’ relationship with Ferrellgas was “sufficiently close” that they could compel arbitration pursuant to the plaintiff’s employment agreement with Ferrellgas. Brent Coverdale, Paula Brown and Cameron Grant appeared on the brief; Cameron Grant argued the appeal. The opinion can be found here.