In the state of California, waivers of liability will be considered enforceable so long as they have been drafted properly and the language is explicit as to the scope of coverage. Additionally, the language in question has to be legible and use high-visibility text (in other words, it cannot be in the fine print).
Code § 382 authorizes class action suits in California when the question is one of a common or general interest, of many persons, or when the parties are numerous, and it is impracticable to bring them all before the court.
In 2014, the California Supreme Court ruled that class action waivers were permissible under the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”), and that the FAA preempted state laws to the contrary.
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.
So long as a defendant can show a valid agreement to arbitrate and a valid class action waiver, then a putative class action plaintiff will be unable to proceed on a class basis.
Yes, class action waivers are generally legal and enforceable under federal law based several U.S. Supreme Court rulings. However, their enforceability can still be challenged based on state laws, their fairness to the consumer, and public policy considerations.
While arbitration agreements are generally enforceable in Canada, consumer protection legislation in some Canadian provinces invalidates arbitration agreements and class action waivers in consumer contracts.
A class action waiver is a provision found in some contracts which prohibits a party from filing a class action legal proceeding against the other party, or both parties waiving the right to file class actions against each other.
Some contracts give you the right to opt out of the forced arbitration clause within a certain period of time, often 30 to 60 days, after signing the agreement by notifying the company that you wish to opt out. Check your contract for the deadline and for specific instructions for opting out.
Outline a concise factual background and then move on to a discussion of the issues at the heart of the case. Your arguments should flow easily from the relevant facts and applicable law. And, by all means, avoid exaggeration of the strengths of your case as well as disparagement of the opposing side.