Arbitrator Rules EEOC’s Comp Time Policy Violated Labor Law

An arbitrator has ruled the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is violating federal labor law by seeking to avoid paying workers for overtime.

Arbitrator Steven Wolf ruled the agency pressured employees…

Mar 31, 2009 12:45 PM CDT

Obama Says Medical Malpractice Reform Is ‘On the Table’

The Obama administration is considering medical malpractice reform as part of an overhaul of the health care system.

Past efforts to cap pain and suffering damages in medical malpractice suits…

Mar 18, 2009 6:50 PM CDT

Consumers Won More than Half of Arbitrations Studied

Arbitration of consumer disputes is not the business friendly forum that some critics charge, according to the results of a new study by Northwestern law school.

The study of 301…

Mar 12, 2009 6:09 PM CDT

Appeals Court Blasts Settlement Firm, Nixes Deal Costing Victim $300K

A federal appeals court has refused to approve a lump-sum deal that cost a bombing victim around $300,000 because the Houston settlement company that struck the agreement evaded a Pennsylvania…

Mar 10, 2009 3:12 PM CDT

Supreme Court Rules for Consumer Resisting Compelled Arbitration

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that a federal court has no jurisdiction to hear a credit card company’s motion to compel arbitration of a consumer dispute that began in…

Mar 9, 2009 4:49 PM CDT

Lawyer Who Sued Company CEO is Target of Claimed Cyber-Attack Campaign

In nearly 20 years as a trial lawyer, Keith Fink has encountered plenty of hardball litigation tactics. But the cyber attacks he has suffered since he began…

Jan 28, 2009 1:55 AM CST

Laid-Off Holland & Knight Partner Sues Over Retirement Benefits

A partner laid off by Holland & Knight in 2002 has filed a suit seeking retirement benefits of more than $5,000 a month.

R. Thomas Farrar claims in the suit…

Jan 7, 2009 11:57 AM CST

Possible Private Court Hearings in R.I. Raise ACLU’s Hackles

An almost 25-year-old law in Rhode Island is suddenly controversial, as it looks like it might be implemented for the first time.

The so-called hire-a-judge law enacted by the state…

Dec 24, 2008 6:31 PM CST

Court Reveals Sham Arbitration Pact to Clear American Apparel CEO

A California appeals court opinion has revealed an unusual agreement for a sham arbitration proceeding that would clear the CEO of American Apparel of sexual harassment allegations.

The agreement called…

Nov 6, 2008 4:03 PM CST

Companies Prefer Litigation in Business, but not Consumer, Contracts

Companies that tout the virtues of arbitration appear to prefer litigation for disputes involving contracts with other companies, according to a study by three law professors.

More than three quarters…

Oct 6, 2008 12:57 PM CDT

Islamic Court Rulings are Enforceable in the United Kingdom

Islamic law now has legal effect in the United Kingdom, under a 1996 arbitration statute that recognizes the rulings of a network of five Shariah courts.

Although there was a…

Sep 19, 2008 5:55 PM CDT

Did Judge Refer Cases to Lawyer in Exchange for a Cut-Rate Divorce?

A Minnesota judge has been accused by a state disciplinary body of referring at least 19 divorce mediation cases to his personal attorney, in exchange for a $64,000 discount on…

Aug 28, 2008 10:53 PM CDT

L.A. Mediator’s Online Show Picked Up By Radio Network

The online show of Los Angeles mediator Lee Jay Berman has been picked up by the American General Media radio network.

The show is called “Talk It Over,” and offers…

Jul 14, 2008 12:50 PM CDT

N.M. Supreme Court Is Fifth to Strike Down Class Action Waiver

State supreme courts are increasingly striking down mandatory arbitration agreements that bar class action lawsuits.

The latest state court to act is New Mexico’s, the Wall…

Jul 3, 2008 10:52 AM CDT

They Dun Them Wrong

Suits challenge use of mandatory arbitration clauses to pursue debtors

Jul 1, 2008 3:00 PM CDT