Kia Franklin

US PIRG on Congress’ Attention to Corporate Courts

U.S. PIRG posted a great blog that provides a helpful overview of Congress’ recent attention to the problem of mandatory binding arbitration agreements and their impact on consumers. A highlight from the blog:

Most Americans think that everyone with a dispute has the right to a day in court. Wrong…

Who is being forced into arbitration? Pretty much everyone, including identity theft victims of MBNA credit card bank. Identity theft victims? They never had an account! Yet, as described in recent testimony by Paul Bland of Public Justice, MBNA routinely files arbitration claims seeking “unpaid” debts from the victims, and gets its favorite arbitration company to “blackball” arbitrators that rule for the consumer, even once.

…Over the last 15-20 years, a concerted effort by corporations and their law firms has resulted in the insertion of binding mandatory arbitration clauses into virtually all consumer, employee, investor, small farmer and other small business contracts. In many cases, the consumer never even signed that contract (and most are one-sided standard form contracts, anyway, not negotiable contracts); rather, it was amended with a “blow-in insert” to a monthly credit card or other bill, sometimes with a “right” to opt-out or decline the change. Employees have no real choice, either, of course, other than quitting. As for the farmers, when the agribusiness truck full of baby chicks arrives, they don’t get the truckload unless they sign the receipt that includes an “I agree to arbitration” line.

The blog also includes helpful links and information for those who want to learn more. (Read It)

What else can we do to urge Congress to stop corporatizing our court system and restore our constitutional right to a civil trial? For one thing, visit the Give Me Back My Rights campaign for more information. The Campaign also wants to hear about any binding arbitration horror stories people have, which can be submitted here.

Posted at 2:46 PM, Jun 20, 2007 in Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)