Asignacion v. Rickmers Genoa Schiffahrtsgesellschaft mbH & Cie KG

PRISCILLA R. OWEN, Circuit Judge:

Rickmers Genoa Schiffahrtsgesellschaft mbH & Cié KG (Rickmers) sought to enforce a Philippine arbitral award given to Lito Martinez Asignación for maritime injuries. The district court refused to enforce the award pursuant to the public-policy defense found in the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (the Convention) 1 and the prospective-waiver doctrine. Rickmers appeals. We reverse and remand for the district court to enforce the award.

I

Asignación, a citizen and resident of the Philippines, signed a contract to work aboard…