Posted by Patrick Regan and Paul Cornoni
David Lazarus, of The Los Angeles Times, published an excellent piece concerning the issue of forced arbitration. As the article states: “If you have a credit card, a cellphone or even just a job, chances are you’ve already signed away your right to sue if something goes wrong.”
Unfortunately, mandatory arbitration clauses have become the norm for most consumer contracts. Typically these types of clauses force the purchaser to abandoned his or her right to a trial or class action suit.
It does appear that help may be on the way for the consumer in the form of the Fair Arbitration Now Coalition. Lazarus states that “Consumer advocates, sensing a shift in the political winds under President Obama, believe the time is right to challenge mandatory arbitration and have banded together to support legislation ending the practice.”
If you would like to learn more about this legislation or send a letter to Congress, visit: http://www.fairarbitrationnow.org/