End Forced Arbitration: Greater Rights in Employment and Consumer Disputes
This Act aims to prohibit agreements that force citizens to resolve disputes outside of court before those disputes even arise. As a result, in cases involving employment, consumer issues, discrimination, or antitrust matters, citizens will have the right to pursue their claims in court and participate in class action lawsuits. This enhances legal protection and provides greater freedom in choosing how to resolve conflicts.
Key points
Ban on forced arbitration agreements: It will no longer be possible to pre-emptively impose out-of-court dispute resolution for future employment, consumer, antitrust, and civil rights disputes.
Right to class action lawsuits: Citizens, workers, and small businesses will gain the right to participate in joint, class, or collective actions in the aforementioned types of disputes, making it easier to pursue claims.
Court decisions: A court, not an arbitrator, will determine whether a case falls under the new provisions and whether an arbitration agreement is valid.
Voluntary arbitration still possible: After a dispute arises, parties can still voluntarily agree to arbitration if they deem it beneficial.
Introduced
Citizen Poll