If you've been sued for a debt, check your credit card agreement for an arbitration clause and file a Motion to Compel Arbitration into the case to avoid going to court. To find your arbitration clause, read the fine print, look for dispute resolution key terms, and utilize the CFPB's credit card agreement database.
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.
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.
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).
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.
Traditionally, to prove waiver of the right to arbitrate, a party must prove that (1) the waiving party had knowledge of an existing right to compel arbitration; (2) acted inconsistently with that existing rights; and (3) there was prejudice to the party opposing arbitration.
Top 10 tips for drafting arbitration agreements Introduction. Scope of the arbitration agreement. Seat of the arbitration. Governing law of the arbitration agreement. Choice of rules. Language. Number and appointment of arbitrators. Specifying arbitrator characteristics.
To give you an idea of the process that arbitration typically involves, the American Arbitration Association describes artibtration as having five main steps: Filing and initiation. Arbitrator selection. Preliminary hearing. Information exchange and preparation. Hearings. Post hearing submissions. Award.
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.
Include Arbitrator's Jurisdiction Clause. Define Arbitration Scope Precisely. Specify Confidentiality Rules Clearly. Determine Applicable Law and Jurisdiction. Specify Arbitrator Selection Process. Set Clear Arbitration Timelines.