Agreement Arbitrate Document Without Comments In North Carolina
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Unconscionability requires a showing of both a procedural and substantive defect in the document for the agreement to be rendered unenforceable by the court. Procedural unconscionability results from oppression or unfair surprise to one party caused by unequal bargaining power.
The brief should include identification of the parties, a concise description of the facts, and applicable case law and statutes. The briefs should be submitted to the arbitrator at least 2 days prior to the arbitration hearing.
The arbitration agreement must be contained in either a written document signed (including every adequate form of electronic signature) by the parties or in an exchange of letters, faxes, e-mails, or other forms of communication exchanged between the parties that provides proof of the existence of the agreement.
VALID ARBITRATION AGREEMENT In North Carolina, the court determines the validity of an arbitration agreement itself, while the arbitrator determines the validity and enforceability of the agreement containing an arbitration provision (N.C.G.S. § 1-569.6(b) and (c)).
However, if a plaintiff unwittingly entered into an arbitration agreement due to coercion or deception, or if the terms of the arbitration agreement undermine the plaintiff's ability to vindicate their rights, courts can and sometimes do step in and invalidate the contract.
If the arbitration agreement is claimed to be invalid based on reasons such as error, fraud, or threat, the validity of the arbitration agreement will be governed by the law chosen by the parties, and in the absence of a choice of law, the law of the place of arbitration applied.
As a general rule, only strong evidence of duress or fraud are sufficient to invalidate an arbitration clause.
If the contract is valid, the court will look to the arbitration provision. As long as the parties understood that they were giving up their right to resolve their dispute in court, including having a jury decide the facts of their case, a court will most likely uphold the arbitration provision.
An arbitration hearing is an informal legal proceeding held before a neutral court official called an arbitrator. Arbitration hearings are limited by rule to one hour and take place in the courthouse. The hearings are conducted in a serious but relaxed atmosphere, with the rules of evidence serving as a guide.
(N.C.G.S. § 1-569.7(b).) In deciding a motion to stay arbitration, if the court finds there is a valid and enforceable arbitration agreement, the court must order the parties to arbitrate, even if no party moved to compel arbitration (N.C.G.S. § 1-569.7(b)).
