Judge slaps down Twitter employee class action lawsuit request

A federal judge this week ruled that a group of former Twitter employees may not bring a class-action lawsuit against the company over their dismissal, citing the contract they signed with the company that stipulated an individual arbitration policy. 

The five plaintiffs "signed arbitration agreements as part of their employment contracts with Twitter,” U.S. District Judge James Donato said in a ruling published on Friday. Those agreements preempt class-action arbitration with the company. 

The former employees “are ordered to arbitration on an individual basis,” the judge said in the decision.

Donato had previously directed Twitter to ensure that employees are properly notified before signing contracts with lawsuit-related stipulations in them.