U.S. Chamber shields corporations, rigs legal system at consumers' expense
WASHINGTON, April 2, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a
statement from American Association for Justice CEO Jon Haber on the
Arbitration Fairness Act of 2007 (H.R. 3010 / S.1782) and U.S. Chamber's
latest attempts to avoid corporate accountability while denying people justice
through the legal system:
"U.S. Chamber and its corporate financers are lobbying to keep abusive,
binding mandatory arbitration clauses as the status quo. Just ask Jamie Leigh
Jones what she thinks of the status quo.
"Jamie was raped, drugged, beaten, and then confined to a shipping container
by KBR/Halliburton employees while working in Iraq. Because of a clause
placed in her employment contract, KBR is trying to force Jamie to submit to a
binding, secret, non-appealable arbitration. These are the types of
corporations U.S. Chamber is trying to protect.
"This abusive corporate practice affects all Americans. Car, nursing home,
and credit card contracts almost always include clauses to eliminate access to
the courts and force people into a costly private legal system that favors
corporations. Arbitration can only be a valid and effective method of
resolving disputes when both parties agree voluntarily, not when it is forced
upon people to limit their legal rights.
"U.S. Chamber is protecting corporations that bury mandatory arbitration
clauses in fine print while destroying the civil justice system."
As the world's largest trial bar, AAJ promotes justice and fairness for
injured persons, defends the constitutional right to trial by jury, and
strengthens the civil justice system through education and disclosure of
information critical to public health and safety. Serving members worldwide,
AAJ provides attorneys with the information and professional assistance they
need to serve clients successfully and protect the democratic values of the
civil justice system. Visit http://www.justice.org.
SOURCE American Association for Justice
Ray De Lorenzi of the American Association for Justice, +1-202-965-3500 x369
