By: Molly Condon Wells
In November 2025, the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois—together with the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault and the Victim Rights Law Center—filed an amicus brief in Geller v. Uber Technologies, Inc. before the Supreme Court of Illinois.
While the underlying case involves a wrongful death claim against Uber Technologies, Inc., the amicus brief addresses a far broader issue: the growing use of forced arbitration and delegation clauses to prevent survivors of sexual assault and gender-based violence from accessing public courts.
The brief urges the Court to ensure that judges—not private arbitrators—decide whether statutory survivor protections apply, and to interpret arbitration law in a way that preserves Illinois’ constitutional guarantee of open courts.
This case has significant implications for survivors across Illinois and beyond.
Read the full article in the WBAI Winter 2026 Newsletter on page 15 to learn why this issue matters and how it could shape access to justice for years to come.