by Jeff Sovern
Some arbitration clauses permit consumers to opt out of arbitration and class action waivers provided the consumer acts within a stated period. For example, Asana provides in § 13.8 of its Terms of Service for a 30-day opt-out. Those wishing to opt out are instructed to send "written notice of your decision to opt out to dispute-notice@asana.com with the subject line, 'ARBITRATION AND CLASS ACTION WAIVER OPT-OUT.'" But there's only one problem, as Gregory Gauthier discovered. Emails sent to that address are returned as undeliverable. Apparently Asana has listed that email address since at least its April 27, 2015 Terms of Service (though the arbitration clause in those terms did not include an opt-out). But maybe it doesn't matter because (1) few consumers read such terms of service; (2) few consumers understand arbitration clauses; (3) few consumers opt out, probably because of (1) and (2); if few consumers opt out, there won't be enough consumers to participate in a class action anyway. Companies undoubtedly adopted opt-outs to help them argue that arbitration clauses are not unconscionable without actually exposing the companies to class actions. Apparently Asana has taken things even further.
