H.R. 1020 · 111th Congress

Arbitration Fairness Act of 2009

Stage
In committee
Introduced
2009-02-12
Latest action
2010-06-21 · Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law Discharged.

Summary

Arbitration Fairness Act of 2009 - Declares that no predispute arbitration agreement shall be valid or enforceable if it requires arbitration of: (1) an employment, consumer, or franchise dispute, or (2) a dispute arising under any statute intended to protect civil rights.

Declares, further, that the validity or enforceability of an agreement to arbitrate shall be determined by a court, under federal law, rather than an arbitrator, irrespective of whether the party resisting arbitration challenges the arbitration agreement specifically or in conjunction with other terms of the contract containing such agreement.

Exempts from this Act arbitration provisions in collective bargaining agreements.