Karl Bayer's Disputing Blog

Jones v. Halliburton/KBR: Trial Begins, Not Arbitration

By Victoria VanBuren - June 25, 2011

As the Wall Street Journal reports, Jamie Leigh Jones' trial has began in Houston. Jones v Halliburton/KBR is an employment arbitration case with tragic facts that made the national headlines, including a story by the National Public Radio (NPR). Jones claims that in July 2005, four days after she arrived to work in Iraq, she was gang raped by seven co-workers.

U.S. Arbitration and Mediation Legislative Update | June 2011

By Victoria VanBuren - June 13, 2011

The following bills relating to alternative dispute resolution were introduced by the 112nd U.S. Congress. The session convened in Washington, D.C. on January 3, 2011 and will end on January 3, 2013. Click on the bill number to read its text and on the status link to find the bill’s most recent legislative action. Arbitration Fairness Act of 2011. Declares that no predispute arbitration agreement shall be valid or enforceable if it requires arbit

Texas Regular Legislative Session Ends, Special Session Begins

By Victoria VanBuren - June 9, 2011

The 82nd regular session of the Texas Legislature adjourned on May 30, 2011. More than 1,500 bills and resolutions have been sent to Governor Rick Perry. The Governor has until June 19th to sign, veto, or let the bills become law without a signature. Find the ADR bills filed during this session here. Governor Perry has already called for a special session starting on May 31st, the session is limited to: Legislation relating to fiscal matters nece

Texas Arbitration and Mediation Legislative Update | May, 2011

By Holly Hayes - May 23, 2011

The following bills relating to alternative dispute resolution were introduced by the 82nd Texas legislative session. The last day of the regular session will be Monday, May 30, 2011. Click on the bill number to read its text and on the status link to find the bill’s legislative history. Stay tuned to Disputing for more legislative updates! SB 1216 provides that a court “may order arbitration only if the court determines that the contract c

U.S. Congress Introduces the Arbitration Fairness Act of 2011

By Victoria VanBuren - May 16, 2011

As discussed last week, the 112th Congress is now contemplating the Arbitration Fairness Act of 2011. The Senate version was introduced by Sen. Al Franken on May 12, 2011 with 12 co-sponsors. Similarly, Rep. Johnson, Henry C. “Hank,” Jr. introduced the House version with 62 co-sponsors. The Arbitration Fairness Act of 2011 would ban mandatory pre-dispute arbitration clauses in employment, consumer, and civil rights cases. Senate versi

Senator Al Franken Announces Plan to Reintroduce the Arbitration Fairness Act

By Victoria VanBuren - May 9, 2011

In response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in AT&T, Mobility, LLC v. Concepcion, Senator Al Franken announced his plan to reintroduce the Arbitration Fairness Act . The Act would ban mandatory arbitration clauses in employment, consumer, and civil rights cases. “This ruling is another example of the Supreme Court favoring corporations over consumers,” said Sen. Franken. “The Arbitration Fairness Act would help rectify th

Texas Senate Passes Collaborative Healthcare Bill

By Beth Graham - April 20, 2011

Yesterday, the Texas Senate passed a bill which seeks to establish a Texas Institute of Health Care Quality and Efficiency. Senate Bill 8 was authored by State Senator Jane Nelson and filed on February 16, 2011. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services the next day and a public hearing was held on March 29th. SB 8 seeks “to improve health care quality, accountability, and cost containment in this state by encoura

Public Hearing Held on Texas Collaborative Healthcare Bill

By Holly Hayes - March 30, 2011

A public hearing was held yesterday on a collaborative healthcare bill currently before the 82nd Texas Legislature which would establish a Texas Institute of Health Care Quality and Efficiency. SB 8, which seeks “to improve health care quality, accountability, and cost containment in this state by encouraging health care provider collaboration, effective health care delivery models, and coordination of health care services,” was referred to the H

CalOHII Publishes Electronic HIE Demonstration Projects Regulations

By Holly Hayes - March 4, 2011

The California Office of Health Information Integrity (CalOHII) has published proposed regulations for its electronic health information exchange (HIE) demonstration projects. According to CalOHII’s Initial Statement of Reasons, such projects “will test policies and rules to better inform the State and health care stakeholders while the HIE infrastructure is being defined over the next several years. By allowing for various HIE demonstratio

Collaborative Healthcare Bill Before the Texas Legislature

By Holly Hayes - March 2, 2011

A bill seeking to establish a Texas Institute of Health Care Quality and Efficiency is currently before the Texas Legislature. Senate Bill 8 was authored by Senator Nelson and filed on February 16, 2011. It seeks “to improve health care quality, accountability, and cost containment in this state by encouraging health care provider collaboration, effective health care delivery models, and coordination of health care services.” The bill was referre