As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to decide Rent-A-Center v. Jackson, we thought that you might find interesting to read the following blog posts and articles relating to the issue of arbitration unconscionability: Who gets to Decide Unconscionability?, Andrea Schneider, ADR Prof Blog (March 4, 2010) Thankful for Unanswered Prayers? Unconscionability Equilibrium, Don Philbin, Alternative [...]
Continue reading about Recent Developments in Arbitration Unconscionability
Aaron Bruhl (pictured left) Professor at the University of Houston Law Center, has posted this interesting commentary at the Prawfsblawg yesterday about Rent-A-Center v. Jackson, the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court case about whether courts or arbitrators should decide the issue of unconscionability. (previously discussed here). Here is an excerpt: The Federal Arbitration Act makes arbitration agreements as [...]
The U.S. Supreme Court has granted certiorari to Jackson v. Rent-A-CenterWest, Inc. , No. 07-16164 (9th Cir. Sept. 9, 2009). The question presented is whether a district court is in all cases required to determine claims that an arbitration agreement subject to the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”) is unconscionable, even when the parties to the [...]
Continue reading about Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Arbitration Unconscionability Case
Donald R. Philbin Jr., contributor to this blog, has written recently an article entitled Thankful for Unanswered Prayers? Unconscionability ‘Equilibrium,’ 27 Alternatives to the High Cost of Litigation 145 (Oct. 2009). As its title suggests, the article discusses the salient issue of unconscionability in arbitration agreements. Here is an excerpt: Collision? Or Coexistence? The issue: [...]
In Chalk v. T-Mobile USA, Inc., No. 06-35909 (9th Cir. Mar. 27, 2009), the issue before the Ninth Circuit is whether a class action waiver in an agreement between T-Mobile and its customers is unconscionable under Oregon law. Steward and Chalk (plaintiffs) bought from T-Mobile a PC card manufactured by Sony. The card enables computers [...]
Continue reading about Ninth Circuit Finds Class Action Waiver Unconscionable
In a surprising decision (that almost went unnoticed because of the Holidays and warm Texas weather) arbitration provisions in an employment agreement were found unconscionable by the Texas Supreme Court. In re Poly-America, L.P., 262 S.W.3d 337 (Tex. 2008) involves a retaliatory-discharge claim under the Texas Worker’s Compensation Act (the “Act”) . Justice Brister filed a [...]
Continue reading about Unconscionable Arbitration Agreement: A First for Texas
