A New Jersey judge has reversed a previous decision he says was based on his own inadequate assessment, now rejecting an employer’s bid to compel arbitration of a workplace discrimination suit based on language in its employee handbook.

Passaic County Superior Court Judge Frank Covello ruled Wednesday that a mandatory arbitration clause in the employee handbook for Lippolis Electric Inc. of Pelham, New York, is invalid because of a disclaimer stating that the handbook is “neither a contract of employment nor a legally-binding agreement.” The ruling means the plaintiff, Shadi Ramadan, gets a jury trial for his discrimination suit instead of having to arbitrate.

Judge Frank Covello of Passaic County. Courtesy photo