White v. Valero Refining New Orleans, LLC

Calvin White (plaintiff) worked at an oil refinery. When the refinery was purchased by Valero Services, Inc. (Valero) (defendant), White signed an employment agreement with Valero that contained an arbitration clause. White made numerous complaints of workplace harassment to Valero. White filed suit against Valero, seeking damages for intentional infliction of emotional distress. The case was remanded to an arbitrator as per White’s employment agreement. Discovery was conducted during the arbitration proceedings. Valero motioned the arbitrator for summary judgment, seeking dismissal of White’s claims. White opposed the summary-judgment motion. The arbitrator rendered an award granting summary judgment in favor of Valero, finding that Valero did not intentionally inflict severe emotional distress on White. The arbitrator based that conclusion on an investigation report that showed that Valero made a good-faith effort to address White’s complaints of harassment. White motioned the district court to vacate the arbitrator’s award. White argued, among other assertions, that the arbitrator refused to hear certain relevant evidence. In particular, White asserted that the arbitrator wrongfully prohibited the taking of depositions in connection with the investigation report and that the investigation report was inadmissible.