U.S. Supreme Court puts off action on major class action dispute

The Supreme Court stands in Washington May 18, 2015. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

The U.S. Supreme Court will not act until at least the fall on a major business dispute on whether companies can head off costly class action lawsuits, meaning President Donald Trump’s nominee to the bench will almost certainly be in place to cast a possible pivotal vote.

The court notified lawyers in the case on Wednesday that the three consolidated cases “will be scheduled for oral argument in the 2017 term,” which starts in October, rather than the current term that ends in June.

The cases, including one involving global professional services giant Ernst & Young[ERNY.UL], concern whether companies can force employees to give up their right to pursue work-related legal claims in court as a group.