Kansas City Business Journal: Court Rejects Polsinelli’s Motion to Arbitrate Sexual Harassment Case

September 25, 2025 – The Kansas City Business Journal reports today that a federal judge in D.C. has denied a motion from Polsinelli law firm to dismiss a sexual harassment case and to compel arbitration.

As reported, “[former Polsinelli partner] Julia Rix filed suit in September 2023 in Washington, D.C., federal court against Kansas City-based Polsinelli and two senior partners in its New York office, Dov Scherzer and Gabriel Yomi Dabiri. She claimed that Scherzer and Dabiri, who were in positions to play an influential role in her advancement, subjected her to repeated sexual harassment and that she was fired after filing a complaint.”

The Journal reports that Judge Amir Ali denied Polsinelli's motions on September 18, finding that Rix's claims were legally sufficient to support a cause of action. He also ruled that the arbitration clause cannot be enforced because it would violate the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act. The result: the lawsuit will continue and be litigated publicly.

“This ruling is important,” said William Brewer III, Rix's attorney and a partner at Brewer Attorneys & Counselors. “It affirms that victims of sexual harassment are entitled to the public scrutiny that comes with the judicial system. Julia has shown courage in standing up to Polsinelli.”

Read more here.