releases: http://franken.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=2641
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://franken.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=2641 | In Hearing, Sen. Franken Examines Americans' Right to Challenge Corporations in Court | 2013-12-17 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | MN | Al Franken | F000457 | franken.senate.gov | legacy | Witness after witness confirmed today during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, chaired by U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), that big corporations are denying consumers their right to challenge unfair practices in court and pointed to Sen. Franken's bill as a solution to restore workers', small businesses', and service members' access to justice. You can download video of Sen. Franken's opening statement here. "For several years, I've worked to return access to justice to consumers, workers, and small businesses in Minnesota," said Sen. Franken. "It's clear from today's hearing that we're at a point where big corporations can write their own rules and insulate themselves from liability for wrongdoing—this can't continue. We need to restore Americans' right to challenge unfair practices in court. I'll continue to push for passage of my bill to do just that." To restore Minnesotans' access to justice, Sen. Franken introduced the Arbitration Fairness Act, which would prohibit mandatory, pre-dispute arbitration in consumer, employment, civil rights, and antitrust cases. Mandatory arbitration is as big a problem in Minnesota as it is across the country. During the hearing, witness Vildan A. Teske—a Minnesota lawyer who represents Minnesota service members facing unfair practices by lenders—recounted the story of an active duty soldier whose mortgage lender falsified an affidavit and foreclosed on his house while he was serving in Iraq. The lender essentially got away with the foreclosure because the lender included a class action ban in the soldier's mortgage documents. You can watch the exchange here. Specifically, Sen. Franken's Arbitration Fairness Act does the following: Restores the original intent of the Federal Arbitration Act by clarifying the scope of its application. Amends the Federal Arbitration Act by adding a new chapter invalidating agreements that require the arbitration of employment, consumer, civil rights, or antitrust disputes made before the dispute arises. Restores the rights of workers, consumers, and small businesses trying to seek justice in our courts. Ensures transparency in civil litigation. Protects the integrity of the Civil Rights Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, among others. Sen. Franken's bill currently has the support of 23 Senators and 71 Representatives. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |