Menu
Court Decisions about Arbitration
A Case that Has Gone Through Litigation, Arbitration, and Mediation: Cull and Cull v. Perry Homes
By Victoria VanBuren - April 24, 2010
It has been a long road for Mr. and Mrs. Cull. Here are the facts of the case: In 1996, the Culls bought a home from home builder Perry Homes and warranties from Home Owners Multiple Equity, Inc. and Warranty Underwriters Insurance Company. In 2000, the Culls sued the warranty companies over problems with their house foundation and construction. They claimed that their home had defects that caused its appraised value to plummet from more than $23
U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Arguments in Arbitration Unconscionability Case: Rent-A-Center v. Jackson
By Victoria VanBuren - April 22, 2010
Oral arguments in Rent-A-Center West v. Jackson, a case that we have been following on this blog, are scheduled at the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday, April 26. Here are some relevant details: Question Presented: Is the district court required in all cases to determine claims that an arbitration agreement subject to the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”) is unconscionable, even when the parties to the contract have clearly and unmistakably
Arbitration Unconscionability Case: New Amicus Curiae Brief
By Victoria VanBuren - April 6, 2010
On March 31, a new amicus brief has been filed with the U.S. Supreme Court on the case Rent-A-Center, West v. Jackson, Docket No. 09-497 (read our previous post here). The case is scheduled to be argued on April 26. The new brief filed by professional arbitrators and arbitration scholars in support of the respondent, argues that the question of whether an arbitration agreement is unconscionable should be decided by a court, not an arbitrator. Lin
Recent Developments in Arbitration Unconscionability
By Victoria VanBuren - March 30, 2010
As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to decide Rent-A-Center v. Jackson, we thought that you might find interesting to read the following blog posts and articles relating to the issue of arbitration unconscionability: Who gets to Decide Unconscionability?, Andrea Schneider, ADR Prof Blog (March 4, 2010) Thankful for Unanswered Prayers? Unconscionability Equilibrium, Don Philbin, Alternative Resolutions Newsletter, page 30 (Winter 2010) Unconscionab
Texas Supreme Court Clarifies Appeals Under the Texas Arbitration Act
By Victoria VanBuren - March 26, 2010
The Texas Supreme Court held that the Texas General Arbitration Act (TAA) allows an appeal from a trial court’s order that denies confirmation of an arbitration award and instead, vacates the award and directs that the dispute be arbitrated anew. Justice Hecht delivered the opinion of the court, in which Justice O’Neill, Justice Wainwright, Justice Johnson, Justice Willett, and Justice Guzman joined. Justice Willett filed a concurring opinion. Ch
Jones v. Halliburton: Halliburton and KBR Withdraw U.S. Supreme Court Appeal
By Victoria VanBuren - March 24, 2010
The Houston Chronicle reports on Halliburton and KBR’s appeal of the recent Fifth Circuit decision in Jones v. Halliburton, 583 F.3d 228 (5th Cir. 2009) : Halliburton, KBR drop court appeal in rape case By RAMIT PLUSHNICK-MASTI Associated Press Writer © 2010 The Associated Press March 22, 2010, 5:09PM HOUSTON — Halliburton Co. and KBR Inc. have withdrawn an appeal asking the U.S. Supreme Court to block a lawsuit by a former military contrac
Should you Include a Binding Arbitration Clause in an Attorney-Client Engagement Agreement?
By Victoria VanBuren - March 19, 2010
As more cases involving arbitration between a lawyer and client make their way through the courts, we question if it is a good idea to include arbitration clauses in retainer agreements. Last year, the Honorable Bea Ann Smith, Charles F. Herring Jr., and Karl Bayer presented that topic at a Texas Bar CLE Webcast (available here). Any thoughts? Related Posts: Texas Appellate Court Enforces Attorney-Client Arbitration Agreement (March 11, 2010) Fif
Texas Appellate Court Enforces Attorney-Client Arbitration Agreement
By Victoria VanBuren - March 11, 2010
The Fourteenth Court of Appeals of Texas held that a trial court abused its discretion in denying a motion to compel arbitration. I. Background In Pham v. Letney, no. 14-09-00387-CV (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] March 4, 2010) Shelly Letney hired the law firm of Smith & Garg, L.L.C. to pursue her personal injury claims she allegedly suffered in an automobile accident. Sarita Garg is a named partner in the firm and Steven Tuan Pham, an associ
Fifth Circuit Reinstates NASD Arbitration Award
By Victoria VanBuren - March 4, 2010
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit held that a NASD arbitration panel did not exceed its authority when awarded attorney’s fees directly to counsel. In Institutional Capital Management, Inc. v. Claus, No. 08-20710 (5th Cir. Feb. 11, 2010), Leonard Claus and Institutional Capital management (ICM) entered into an agreement to buy and sell bonds. After a dispute over some bonds that Claus originally purchased to sell to Sterlin
Prawfsblawg: Allocating Power Between Courts and Arbitrators – and Why Scholars of Federal Courts Should Care
By Victoria VanBuren - February 23, 2010
Aaron Bruhl (pictured left) Professor at the University of Houston Law Center, has posted this interesting commentary at the Prawfsblawg yesterday about Rent-A-Center v. Jackson, the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court case about whether courts or arbitrators should decide the issue of unconscionability. (previously discussed here). Here is an excerpt: The Federal Arbitration Act makes arbitration agreements as enforceable as all other contracts. In Apri
Legal Research
Recent Posts
Search
Legal Research
© 2025, Karl Bayer. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy