AFJ Praises Legislative Fix for Anti-Consumer Ruling in AT&T Mobility v. Concepcion

Washington, D.C., May 17, 2011–Alliance for Justice President Nan Aron issued the following statement praising the introduction of the Arbitration Fairness Act (S. 987 and H.R. 1873), which would eliminate forced arbitration clauses in employment, consumer, and civil rights cases, and which would effectively override the Supreme Court’s recent decision in AT&T v. Concepcion:

In April, the ultra-conservative majority on the Supreme Court ruled in AT&T Mobility v. Concepcion that corporations are now free to write contracts that bar consumers and employees from banding together to challenge corporate misbehavior in class-action lawsuits or even group arbitration. That destructive decision left corporations with the ability to decide on their own which civil rights and consumer protections they want to obey, knowing that there will be no effective means available to their victims to find redress. Even worse, it has effectively removed any incentive for corporations to behave within the law in the first place.

This Corporate Court, at the behest of big-business interests, has time and again sought to restrict the rights of everyday Americans, but in this case there is a remedy. Alliance for Justice strongly supports the Arbitration Fairness Act, which is being introduced today by Senators Al Franken and Richard Blumenthal and Rep. Hank Johnson. We call on Congress to act swiftly to undo the catastrophic damage done by the Court, end forced arbitration in civil rights, consumer, and employment disputes, and restore the ability of every citizen to use the courts to find justice.

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Alliance for Justice has published a report on the AT&T case, which can be downloaded here (PDF): http://www.afj.org/connect-with-the-issues/the-corporate-court/arbitration-report-final.pdf. 

Information about the Corporate Court is available here: http://www.afj.org/connect-with-the-issues/the-corporate-court/.

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Alliance for Justice is a national association of more than 100 organizations, representing a broad array of groups committed to progressive values and the creation of an equitable, just, and free society. AFJ works to ensure that the federal judiciary advances core constitutional values, preserves human rights and unfettered access to the courts, and adheres to the even-handed administration of justice for all Americans. It is the leading expert on the legal framework for nonprofit advocacy efforts, providing definitive information, resources, and technical assistance that encourages organizations and their funding partners to fully exercise their right to be active participants in the democratic process.