releases: http://franken.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=2632
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://franken.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=2632 | Sen. Franken to Hold Hearing Examining Americans? Dwindling Right to Their Day in Court | 2013-12-11 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | MN | Al Franken | F000457 | franken.senate.gov | legacy | Today, U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) announced that he will chair a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing focused on recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions that have eroded Americans' right to their day in court by ruling in favor of corporations who force consumers, workers, and small businesses into mandatory arbitration. The hearing will also examine Sen. Franken's Arbitration Fairness Act (AFA), his legislation to restore Americans' right to justice by prohibiting mandatory, pre-dispute arbitration in consumer, employment, civil rights, and antitrust cases. "I've heard from Minnesotans that recent decisions by the Supreme Court have given big corporations the unbridled ability to deny small businesses and consumers their day in court, and something has to be done to stop it," said Sen. Franken. "This hearing will shed light on the need to restore justice and pass my legislation to make sure that military service members, consumers, and workers maintain their right to fight back when they aren't treated fairly." In American Express v. Italian Colors, the Supreme Court ruled that an arbitration agreement must be enforced even if it is so bad that it prevents a plaintiff from enforcing his federal rights. Italian Colors built upon the Supreme Court's 2010 decision in AT&T v. Concepcion, in which the Supreme Court upheld the use of class action waivers in arbitration agreements, thus making it nearly impossible for individuals to band together to redress wrongs committed by corporations. WHO: Sen. Franken and members of the Senate Judiciary Committee WHAT: Hearing on Restoring Americans' Right to Their Day in Court WHEN: Tuesday, December 17 at 2:00 p.m. EST WHERE: Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 226 | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |