Arbitration And Class Actions

Complete with a state-by-state analysis of the ways in which the class action rules differ from the Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23, this comprehensive guide provides practitioners with an understanding of the intricacies of a class action lawsuit. Multiple authors contributed to the book, mainly 12 top litigators at the premiere law firm of Fulbright and Jaworski, L.L.P.

Several decades ago, a typical arbitration would involve one claimant against one respondent. Over the years, more and more cases involve several claimants against several respondents. Today, one third of all international ICC arbitrations seem to involve multiparty cases, multi-contract cases involving multiple contracts, multiple parties. The evolution has continued and the debate today is whether it would be possible for a class of people in the same situation or a group of citizens having the same interest to start one single arbitration procedure as a group or as a class. This publication examines the complex issues involved in class or group arbitration on a comparative law basis. Is there a place for such proceedings within the framework of the arbitration process? Class action procedures, as developed in the United States court system and more recently in Canada, are almost nonexistent in Europe. The European Commission has advocated collective redress as an important means of access to justice but class actions have found little enthusiasm in the Members States. The book highlights the lessons which have been learned from the experience of cases in the US and in Europe. What does the future hold for class, collective and mass arbitrations? Are they a marginal phenomenon or has their potential yet to be realized? What are possible solutions to the issues that have been encountered? Can we expect to see more of such arbitrations in the future? Written by arbitrators, academics and practitioners, this Dossier will provide the answers to these questions and many more.

Class, Mass and Collective Arbitration in National and International Law is the first book to discuss various types of large-scale arbitration, where multiple individuals (ranging from several dozen to hundreds of thousands of persons) bring their claims at a single time, in a single arbitral proceeding.

Provides an analysis of the issues arising from multiparty-multicontract arbitrations, including those involving States and groups of companies. This work analyses theories on the basis of which courts and arbitral tribunals determine who are parties to the arbitration clause; and whether an arbitration clause may be extended to non-signatories.

Long regarded as a powerful means to seek individual damages against a corporate defendant, class actions have become a staple of the U.S. litigation system. In recent years, however, several highly significant Supreme Court decisions have weakened the commonality claims of defendants, particularly in workplace discrimination actions. In light of this background, the trends and prospects of employment class actions were the theme of the 56th annual proceedings of the prestigious New York University Conference on Labor, held in May 2003. This important volume reprints the papers presented at that conference, as well as some additional contributions. Among the considerable expertise brought to bear on this controversial subject, readers will find insightful analysis of such issues as the following: Effect of class actions on losing companies; Importance of class actions to Title VII enforcement; Obstacles to class litigation; Compliance and internal enforcement challenges for large employers; Opt-in vs. opt-out alternatives for class members; Value and effectiveness of pattern or practice test cases; Legal limits of group identity; Shifting of the burden of proof; Authority of arbitrators to proceed on a class wide basis; and Countering statistical claims of expert witnesses. Because class actions are based on tension – that between commonality and individuation – they tend to accumulate precedent along a spectrum from disconnected disparity to meaningful resolution. In this deeply informed and thought-provoking book, lawyers and academics concerned with both the interests of employers and of employees will proceed with increased awareness as they work on reconciling the practical and theoretical constraints of class litigation.

Since the 1960s, the class action lawsuit has been a powerful tool for holding businesses accountable. Yet years of attacks by corporate America and unfavorable rulings by the Supreme Court have left its future uncertain. In this book, Brian T. Fitzpatrick makes the case for the importance of class action litigation from a surprising political perspective: an unabashedly conservative point of view. Conservatives have opposed class actions in recent years, but Fitzpatrick argues that they should see such litigation not as a danger to the economy, but as a form of private enforcement of the law. He starts from the premise that all of us, conservatives and libertarians included, believe that markets need at least some rules to thrive, from laws that enforce contracts to laws that prevent companies from committing fraud. He also reminds us that conservatives consider the private sector to be superior to the government in most areas. And the relatively little-discussed intersection of those two beliefs is where the benefits of class action lawsuits become clear: when corporations commit misdeeds, class action lawsuits enlist the private sector to intervene, resulting in a smaller role for the government, lower taxes, and, ultimately, more effective solutions. Offering a novel argument that will surprise partisans on all sides, The Conservative Case for Class Actions is sure to breathe new life into this long-running debate.

Employment Arbitration provides practical commentary and analysis in the area of employment arbitration, for both the novice and the seasoned practitioner. It contains a comprehensive overview of the major developments in this emerging field and it supplies the reader with analysis, perspective, and commentary. The cases selected for presentation and analysis are the most significant decided to date. The case summaries are comprehensive, cogent, and objectively rendered. In addition, they contain critical evaluations which can be of use in developing litigation strategy or advising clients on business practices. The volume also describes and assesses political developments - proposed legislation and lobbying efforts - that address or which could affect this new use of arbitration. Employment Arbitrationemphasizes a number of issues that are particularly controversial in the area: the enforceability of employer-imposed arbitration agreements, the award of attorney’s fees and punitive damages, and the review of arbitral determinations on civil rights claims. Finally, the volume provides the reader with model employment arbitration agreements that are accompanied by extensive commentary and explanations.

Employment Arbitration Agreements: A Practical Guide is the one source that will immediately enable you to: Be confident that your employment arbitration agreements are valid and enforceable in all states Stay fully apprised of ever-changing laws and