Feingold to Introduce Arbitration Act

A recent poll conducted by Lake Research Partners shows Americans widely oppose corporations using mandatory binding arbitration clauses in the fine print of contracts.

Cell phone, credit card, employment and nursing home contracts all contain forced arbitration clauses.

In binding mandatory arbitration, a company requires a consumer to agree to submit any dispute that may arise to binding arbitration prior to completing a transaction with the company. The consumer is required to waive their right to sue, to participate in a class action lawsuit, or to appeal.

For an example of mandatory binding arbitration click here.

The poll also found that:

• Six in 10 likely voters support the Arbitration Fairness Act
• 59% of likely voters oppose the use of mandatory binding arbitration clauses in employment and consumer contracts
• Two-thirds of respondents cannot remember ever reading about a forced arbitration provision buried in the fine print of employment terms or agreement for good and services
• More than 70% of respondents believe they could take their employer or a corporation to court in the event of a dispute, unaware they could be subjected to mandatory binding arbitration

Senator Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) will introduce the Arbitration Fairness Act in the Senate today.

Senator Feingold had this to say, Americans are sick and tired of a system that so strongly favors big corporations over consumers and in this case robs them of their constitutional right to their day in court.

The survey reached 800 adults nationwide, 18 years or older, who are likely to vote in the 2010 elections.

Pitman, Kalkhoff, Sicula & Dentice, S.C. is a Wisconsin personal injury law firm with a devoted nursing home abuse practice. Our nursing home abuse and neglect trial team has successfully represented abused and neglected nursing home residents in almost every county.