Fixing Arbitration Just Took a Huge Step Forward

Do you remember what forced arbitration is? It’s when a company sneaks a clause into a contract that actually strips you of your right to take it to court. If you sign such a contract, then you would be forced to go to arbitration if you are wronged by the company you signed on with. […]

Answers about Arbitration

We discussed arbitration in our blogs this week. We wanted to end the week by addressing some common questions about arbitration. You should address any specific questions to an experienced arbitration attorney. Is there an arbitration clause in your contract? When signing a contract, look for an arbitration clause somewhere in the document. If the benefits to […]

The Benefits of Arbitration

If you are involved in a lawsuit, have you considered arbitration as a means of settling the dispute? Depending on your case, it can be an inexpensive way to settle the dispute. Here are some benefits to going forward with arbitration. Parties to a dispute prefer arbitration because it removes them from the formal judicial system and […]

When is Arbitration Better than Litigation?

You might have heard the term “ADR” used by members of the legal profession. ADR stands for “alternative dispute resolution,” and refers to using mediation or arbitration as an alternative to litigation. Did you know that arbitration has been around for over 1,000 years? Merchants from different countries used arbitration as a way to settle […]

Smith Barney Municipal Bond Funds Arbitration Award is Largest Securities Arbitration Award Ever

Sunday’s New York Times business article, “A Crack in Wall Street’s Defenses,” discusses the largest ever securities product arbitration award to individuals. The award, against Smith Barney, compensates individuals who wanted relatively safe investments, municipal bonds, but were sold highly risky arbitraged municipal bond fund portfolios. The only ones benefiting were the brokers, whose commissions were 40 percent of the total fee. […]