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.
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.
As a general rule, only strong evidence of duress or fraud are sufficient to invalidate an arbitration clause.
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.
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.
A party is deceived, intimidated, or coerced during the execution of the arbitration agreement and requests a declaration that such arbitration agreement is invalid; and. The arbitration agreement violates prohibitions specified by the law.
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.
File online using the New York Insurance ADR Center online version of the Arbitration Request form (AAA Form AR1). Upload documents stored on your desktop. In addition, the successful submission of a case in ADR Center immediately generates a case number that will assist the filer with tracking the status of the case.
Note that arbitration is still possible even without an arbitration clause also including cases where a dispute has already arisen. Arbitration is an alternative out-of-court dispute resolution process, distinct from Court proceedings.
A claimant will typically start arbitration by sending a document known as a “request for arbitration” or a “notice to arbitrate” to its opponent.