The New York Times had a long article describing how consumer contracts with arbitration clauses are preventing consumers from suing companies in class action lawsuits. By inserting individual arbitration clauses into a soaring number of consumer and employment contracts, companies like American Express devised a way to circumvent the courts and bar people from joining together in class-action lawsuits, realistically the only tool citizens have to fight illegal or deceitful business practices. Over the last few years, it has become increasingly difficult to apply for a credit card, use a cellphone, get cable or Internet service, or shop online without agreeing to private arbitration. The same applies to getting a job, renting a car or placing a relative in a nursing home. In 2014 alone, judges upheld class-action bans in 134 out of 162 cases. So what are these cases about? Quite often, very small sums of money. One federal judge remarked in an opinion that...(Read Full Post)