Senate Bill Would Ban Mandatory Arbitration in Cellular Contracts

摘要

Senators Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Al Franken, D-Minn., Tuesday introduced the nConsumer Mobile Fairness Act, which would ban from cellular contracts provisions for nmandatory binding arbitration. "These clauses prohibit consumers from bringing lawsuits nagainst companies that employ abusive practices like hidden fees, instead requiring the use of nan often unfair and biased arbitration system," the senators said in a written statement. "They nare pervasive in mobile service contracts, such as the ones offered by AT&T, Verizon, and nSprint for the new iPhone 4S." Blumenthal said, “Smartphone users deserve their day in ncourt for legitimate complaints against abuses." The bill would overturn a Supreme Court ndecision this year holding that binding arbitration clauses in mobile service contracts are nlawful.