Category Archives: Class Actions

103 Members of Congress Endorse CFPB’s Arbitration Rule

by Jeff Sovern The Senate letter, signed by more than a third of the Senators, is here, and the House letter with 65 signers, is here.  The letters are more than pro forma expressions of support. They are extensively footnoted (and the House letter cites the law professor letter joined by more than 200 professors). Some excerpts […]

Hnylka Article on Rule 68 and Mooting Class Actions

Joseph M Hnylka of Nova Southeastern has written Continuing to Litigate after You Have Won: Courts Defy Article III to Avoid Mooting TCPA Class Actions, Despite Defendants’ Rule 68 Offers of Complete Relief, 64 Drake Law Review (2016).  Here's the abstract: Every day, thousands of ordinary Americans receive unwelcome faxes, text messages, and prerecorded telephone calls […]

Schwartz Article on Scalia’s Jiggery-Pokery in Arbitration

David S. Schwartz of Wisconsin has written Justice Scalia's Jiggery-Pokery in Federal Arbitration Law, Minnesota Law Review, Vol. 101, Headnotes 75 (2016). Here's the abstract: "Jiggery-pokery," a phrase introduced into the U.S. Reports by the late Justice Scalia, is emblematic of Justice Scalia's style — both his lively writing style and his penchant for criticizing his […]

Ware Article on The Politics of Arbitration and Centrist Proposals

Stephen J. Ware of Kansas has written The Politics of Arbitration Law and Centrist Proposals for Reform, 53 Harvard Journal on Legislation (2016).  Here is the abstract: Arbitration law in the United States is far more controversial when applied to individuals than to businesses. While enforcement of arbitration agreements between businesses sometimes raises legal issues that […]

My Arbitration Op-ed in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Here.  Excerpt: * * * Affected businesses are likely to sue (in court, ironically) to try to block [the CFPB arbitration proposal]. In a move that conjures up the famous scene from “Blazing Saddles” in which Cleavon Little takes himself hostage, the financial industry has threatened to abandon consumer arbitration altogether if the regulation takes […]