Arbitration Agreement With Class Action Waiver In Dallas
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Validity of Arbitration Agreements Under Section 171.001 of the TAA, written agreements to arbitrate are generally valid and enforceable in Texas. This section ensures that, barring any specific legal exceptions, parties bound by a written agreement to arbitrate must settle their disputes outside of court.
However, the Texas Supreme Court has ruled that an employer can simply notify at-will employees of the details of an arbitration program it is adopting, and the employees can be bound to that arbitration program by continuing their employment, even if they never sign anything.
See 9 U.S.C. § 1. In Concepcion, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that class action waivers in arbitration agreements are enforceable.
Under California law, you cannot be fired solely for refusing to sign an arbitration agreement. The California Labor Code provides strong protections for employees, ensuring that refusal to sign an arbitration agreement cannot be used as grounds for termination.
If neither party appeals the decision, it will be binding, like an order by a judge. However, a party unhappy with the arbitrator's decision can request a new trial before a judge.
Even if you don't currently have a dispute with the company, it is a good idea to opt out of the forced arbitration clause to preserve your options. You can always agree later to use an arbitrator to resolve any dispute. Moreover, if you have opted out, you will have more negotiating power if there is a problem.
In some instances, you may be able to sue if you signed a valid arbitration agreement. While courts generally favor arbitration agreements, they will allow you to file a lawsuit if either you didn't understand your rights or your claims fall outside the arbitration provision's scope.
Notably, arbitration provisions in contracts are sometimes enforceable even when one or both parties do not sign the contract.