Karl Bayer's Disputing Blog

Disputing Makes it to Diane Levin’s 5 ADR Blogs to Add to Your Reading List

By Victoria VanBuren - July 29, 2009

Mediation Channel and “unofficial taxonomist of the ADR blogosphere,” has named Disputing as one of the 5 additions to her worldwide directory of ADR blogs at ADRBlogs.com. Diane said: I’ve been tracking and cataloging bloggers world-wide who write about ADR, negotiation, and conflict resolution. It gives me the ability to introduce new and worthy ADR blogs to readers – like the following five blogs. I hope you enjoy them: Loree Reinsurance

ABA CLE | Chicago July 31 | Arbitration: Has It Fulfilled Its Promises?

By Victoria VanBuren - July 25, 2009

Attending the 2009 ABA Annual Meeting? you might find the following event of interest: Please join us for the 2009 ABA Annual Meeting at the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago where the Section of Litigation’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee will present: Arbitration: Has It Fulfilled Its Promises? Friday, July 31, 2009, 2:00 – 3:30 pm Moderator: Edward Mullins, Astigarra Davis Mullins & Grossman, P.A., Miami, Florida Panelists wi

Testimony from the U.S. Congress Hearing on the Misuse of Arbitration to Collect Consumer Debts

By Victoria VanBuren - July 24, 2009

To follow up on our post of earlier this week, regarding the Congressional hearing on consumer debt arbitration held in Washington D.C. on July 22, we thought we would like to read the Opening Statement by Dennis Kucinich, Chairman, Domestic Policy Subcommittee and the Staff Report. Also, following find links to prepared testimony by the expert witnesses: Testimony of Michael F. Kelly, Chief Operating Officer, National Arbitration Forum Testimony

Client Sues Texas Attorney Over Failed Arbitration

By Victoria VanBuren - July 24, 2009

Our reader Pat Winslow sent us a rather unusual case filed last year in Tarrant County, Texas. In Scott W. Mooring v. Strasburger (No. 231985) (Aug. 18, 2008) Scott W. Moorig sued Charles M. Hosch and his employer, the law firm Strasburger & Price, LLP, for breach of contract and fraud. Mooring claims that he hired Hosch to conduct an arbitration between himself and two former business associates. The complaint alleges that Hosch took the mon

The American Arbitration Association Confirms Today That It Suspends Arbitration of Consumer Debt Collection

By Victoria VanBuren - July 23, 2009

The Wall Street Journal reported that on Tuesday, a representative of the American Bar Association (“AAA”) said the organization will stop participating in consumer-debt-collection disputes until “new guidelines are established.” Read the full story here: An Arbitration Revolution? AAA Joins NAF, Stops Taking New Cases. Hat tip to our good friend and blog contributor Glen M. Wilkerson. Update: The AAA just released the fol

National Arbitration Forum Settles with Minnesota’s Attorney General

By Victoria VanBuren - July 20, 2009

To follow up on our post of last week and as reported by the ADR Prof Blog and Professor Ross Runkel’s Law Memo Arbitration Blog, the National Arbitration Forum (“NAF”) announced that is settling its lawsuit with Minnesota’s Attorney General and agrees to step aside from the credit card and consumer debt arbitration business. Lory Swanson released this statement today: National Arbitration Forum Barred From Credit Card And

U.S. Congress Hearing on the Misuse of Arbitration to Collect Consumer Debts

By Victoria VanBuren - July 20, 2009

As announced by this press release, the U.S. Subcommittee on Domestic Policy will hold a hearing related to arbitration on July 22, 2009. The hearing is entitled “Arbitration or ‘Arbitrary’: The Misuse of Arbitration to Collect Consumer Debts.” Experts invited to testify include: Michael Kelly, Chief Operating Officer, National Arbitration Forum Richard W. Naimark, Senior Vice-President, International Centre for Dispute Resolution, a division of

National Arbitration Forum Sued by the Minnesota Attorney General

By Victoria VanBuren - July 16, 2009

Via the ADR Prof Blog, we learned that the Minnesota Attorney General, Lori Swanson, has filed a lawsuit against the National Arbitration Forum (“NAF”). The Complaint (Minnesota vs. National Arbitration Forum) alleges consumer fraud, deceptive trade practices, and false advertisement. On July 14, the AG’s office issued a press release about the lawsuit (Attorney General Swanson Sues National Arbitration Company for Deceptive Pra

The Employee Free Choice Act: Update

By Victoria VanBuren - July 2, 2009

Via the Adjunct Law Prof Blog, we learned that a new coalition, the Business Leaders for a Fair Economy is speaking out in support of the Employee Free Choice Act of 2009. The coalition released this ad, which claims that 1,000 business leaders agree the Employee Free Choice Act is key to restoring the country’s economy. The Act ( Senate version: S. 560 and Status; House version: H.R. 1409 and Status ) is currently in the U.S. Congress and

ABA – CLE on July 14 | Deal or No Deal: Improving the Odds of Successful Mediation

By Victoria VanBuren - June 30, 2009

Need CLE Credits? Mark your calendars! The American Bar Association Section of Litigation will hold a live teleconference and webcast on July 14, 2009 titled “Deal or No Deal: Improving the Odds of Successful Mediation.” Reinsurance and Insurance expert Katherine Billingham from KB ReSolutions, Inc. and Randall Kiser from DecisionSet will present at the event. Randall’s article Lets Not Make a Deal: An Empirical Study of Decisio