Former Trump campaign official launches class action to nullify its staffer NDAs - Polidicks

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/02/21/trump-campaign-loved-ndas-an-ex-staffer-wants-nullify-them-with-class-action/ A former Trump campaign official filed a class-action claim on Wednesday seeking to nullify all nondisclosure agreements that the campaign had forced its staffers to sign, calling the documents “unenforceable” and “unconscionable.” The claim, filed by former staffer Jessica Denson with the American Arbitration Association, argues that the NDAs are too broad, too vague and can be used to retaliate against employees who complain of legitimate workplace grievances. ... Current and former aides told The Washington Post in August that Trump’s widespread use of NDAs exemplifies the paranoid culture of leaks, audio recordings and infighting that has been a part of Trump’s dealings for decades. ... Denson’s case ... began when she filed a workplace discrimination and harassment lawsuit against the Trump campaign in 2017. She was hired by the campaign in August 2016 as a phone bank administrator and was promoted to Hispanic engagement director, the court filing said. Bowles said she then faced bullying, harassment and sexual discrimination. After Denson sued, the Trump campaign responded with an arbitration action asserting Denson had “breached confidentiality and non-disparagement obligations” by “publishing certain confidential information and disparaging statements in connection with a lawsuit she filed against claimant,” according to court filings. The campaign’s lawyer demanded Denson pay $1.5 million in damages and legal fees, and an arbitrator ruled that Denson had violated her NDA and ordered her to pay nearly $50,000. ... Denson is challenging the arbitrator’s ruling in state and federal court. In the meantime, this class action seeks to invalidate the basis for the Trump campaign’s complaint: the NDA itself. Just Trump running his campaign like he runs his businesses: With legally-enforced omerta. Must be a total coincidence that he also seems to know lots of criminals who may have sometimes made coffee for him.

the image they used looks like https://files.facepunch.com/forum/upload/217414/66054f9d-7eea-4e88-b248-3728a0baed71/image.png

I hadn't actually read all the way to the bottom of the story. Donnie's one insecure and paranoid cookie. Denson’s NDA, submitted as part of her court filing, presents a litany of actions that are off-limits and seemingly bans them forever. An example: “During the term of your service and at all times thereafter you hereby promise and agree not to demean or disparage publicly the Company, Mr. Trump, any Trump Company, any Family Member, or any Family Member Company or any asset any of the foregoing own, or product or service any of the foregoing offer, in each case by or in any of the Restricted Means and Contexts and to prevent your employees from doing so.” The agreement also defines “confidential information” as anything that “Mr. Trump insists remain private or confidential, including, but not limited to, any information with respect to the personal life, political affairs, and/or business affairs of Mr. Trump or of any Family Member.” "Okay, so what does this NDA I'm about to sign cover?" "Anything The Donald wants it to. Forever." Can you feel America becoming greater?

That's not how free speech works you fucking baboon

Now he's an elected official, do NDAs like this become unenforceable?

That scene at the end is honestly the most scary horror moment I've witnessed but now I think this presidency is worse.

No fucking way it's enforceable that a private citizen can sign away their right to criticize the government. They're not even federal employees, who have restrictions on what they can say publicly. They're straight-up normal-ass American citizens who signed a contract waiving their right to speech against their President. This cannot be legal.

I would hope the courts would consider an open ended unlimited NDA like this a gross violation of the 1st amendment because lord knows an affirmative ruling would be pounced on by every corporation out there.

I don't think you can have a clause that says you can dicatate what is part of the NDA and what isn't at a moments notice. Typically the language needs to be pretty concise, NDA's also expire after a set period of time unless it involves national security.