⚖ Oral Arguments, with Context

The Second Circuit considers whether Nina Owens's discrimination suit against PwC stays in court or goes to arbitration. PwC recruited Owens in 2019 as a principal to build its credit-card consulting business. She alleges male colleagues diverted clients and revenue credit. She says one partner threatened, excluded, and publicly demeaned her but did not treat men that way. Owens complained internally, then PwC allegedly forced her out one day before benefits would vest. She sued for age, race, and gender discrimination, retaliation, and an ERISA violation. Her partnership agreement called for arbitration. The Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act lets a person reject a pre-dispute arbitration agreement when a case relates to alleged sexual harassment. The district judge denied PwC's motion to compel arbitration. The appeal asks whether nonsexual but gender-based hostility counts as sexual harassment under New York City law, and whether Owens was an employee despite her principal title.

Owens v. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC (No. 25-1717) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, argued September 21, 2026.