An arbitration blog by Prof. Imre Szalai
On May 7, 2013, the Arbitration Fairness Act of 2013 was introduced in the House (H.R. 1844) and Senate (S. 878). Click here to see a press release and video from Rep. Hank Johnson. Below is a short summary of the bill, from Continue Reading
Last week, a party filed an opposition brief to a cert petition in a case revealing an interesting dynamic between state and federal arbitration law. Limited Liability Co. v. Doe, No. 12-855 (U.S. Apr. 30, 2013). This case involves an Continue Reading
The Texas Supreme Court recently held that a trust’s arbitration provision was enforceable. See Rachal v. Reitz, No. 11–0708 (Tex. May 3, 2013) (click here for opinion). In this case, a beneficiary sued a trustee for allegedly misappropriating trust assets, Continue Reading
A federal court in Illinois recently compelled arbitration of claims filed in federal court as part of a class action. Bayer v. Comcast Cable Communications, No. 12 C 8618 (N.D. Ill. May 1, 2013). In this case, you see Continue Reading
A federal district court in Hawaii recently issued an opinion raising fundamental questions regarding the Federal Arbitration Act. A-1 A-Lectrician, Inc. v. Commonwealth Reit, Civ.No. 12–00607 (D. Haw. Apr. 26, 2103). The parties involved sixteen small merchants who entered into Continue Reading
A cert petition was filed earlier this week in connection with an Indiana Supreme Court case. National Wine & Spirits, Inc. v. Ernst & Young, LLP, No. 12-1305 (U.S. Apr. 29, 2013). This case involves an alcohol distributor that hired Continue Reading
A federal court in Oklahoma recently enforced an arbitration agreement entered into electronically through a hiring kiosk at JC Penney. Gonzales v. JC Penney Corp, No. 13–CV–86–GKF–TLW (N.D. Okl. Apr. 29, 2013). An employee sued JC Penney in state court Continue Reading
In American Family Life Assurance Co. v. Biles, No. 12–60235 (5th Cir. Apr. 30, 2013) (click here for opinion), an individual purchased an accident insurance policy from Aflac, naming his mother and life partner as beneficiaries. After the purchaser died, Aflac Continue Reading
In McFarland v. Almond Board of California, No. 2:12–CV–02778–JAM–CKD (E.D. Cal. Apr. 25, 2013), a federal court found an employment arbitration agreement unconscionable because the employer retained the right to modify the agreement unilaterally and because the arbitration agreement permitted Continue Reading
Last week, a federal district court in New Jersey issued an interesting decision involving the fallout of NAF’s departure from consumer arbitration, and the case also involves interesting procedural issues in connection with the enforcement of an arbitration agreement. Khan Continue Reading