​Hearing Shines Light on Forced Arbitration, Corporations Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free Card

February 11, 2021

For Immediate Release:

Hearing Shines Light on Forced Arbitration, Corporations Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free Card

Today, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law holds a hearing on ending the practice of forced arbitration.

Below is the statement of Christine Hines, legislative director, National Association of Consumer Advocates:

We applaud the subcommittee for closely examining the well-established record of forced arbitration devastating our fundamental right to go before a judge and jury to hold corporate bad actors accountable. Forced arbitration clauses in corporate contracts enable a rigged system that lets big businesses get away with breaking laws meant to protect consumers, workers, and small businesses from being ripped off, discriminated against, or otherwise injured.

Now, during the turbulent times of COVID-19 that have jeopardized the financial health and physical safety of working families, forced arbitration continues to crush the legal rights of working people. Congress should reject the nonnegotiable corporate fine-print that has privatized an essential part of our justice system. It should end forced arbitration.

Letter from public interest organizations to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee