Comments on: Please Post Your Story Here

By: blogmark

blogmark — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 05:12:14 +0000

We recently went through a horrible arbitration experience which was forced on us by a company called Elance (http://www.elance.com). They employ a virtual arbitration company called net-Arb.com (http://www.net-arb.com). On the website of net-Arb.com, you can’t any information on their physical location, legal status or anything for that matters. Elance threatened to suspend our account if we refused to participate in the arbitration. During the arbitration, the other party (an Elance.com provider) was proven wrong on all their key points and they stopped responding to arbitrators but at the end arbitrators (we suspect there was just one) awarded Elance and their provider on their best case scenario terms while acknowledging that all their assertions were wrong. This was a very unusual decision and they couldn’t have reached this decision unless they had to decide in the favor of Elance as per policy. I have searched around internet and seems like they decide in the favor of Elance almost 100% of the times.

If the evil of forced arbitration was not bad enough in the traditional businesses, online scammy organizations such as Elance.com has also joined hands. Please include this story in horror stories list and let us know if more details are needed.

Thanks

By: David

David — Thu, 12 May 2011 15:49:48 +0000

Wow. What a horrible experience. I lost my company in a backloaded agreement that included an employment agreement where the compensation to acquire my company was to be paid via. the performance of the company. After I was fired (from my own company) we went to arbitration. Two days worth of a trial – and the Judge ruled in favor of the people that literally ripped the company out from under me. The trial was a circus that included them being caught in lies under “oath.” I can only conclude that these arbitrators want more business from the corporations. I walked away completely disallusioned. If this is the way the “legal system” works I want no part of it. Theives with money win. Avoid arbitration at all costs… and avoid JAMS. The little guy simply is NOT going to prevail in this game. Arbitration is final, and in my case it was the final nail in the coffin the crooks put me in that stole my company from me. If my case didn’t win (with literally ALL of the documentation favorable to me)… none will. Don’t count on getting a fair hearing at arbitration. Knowing what I know now I would have saved myself two years of legal wrangling waiting for my “day in court” and I would have walked away.

By: utu wamutu

utu wamutu — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 09:31:37 +0000

Arbitration has become big business for arbitrators due to the fees charged per sitting. The incentive is for any arbitrator to take as long as he or she pleases, so as to gain as much in fees as possible.The more senior the arbitrator the more likely you are to have delays and long proceedings.
Please visit http:www.arbi-trator.webs.com

By: Renee

Renee — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:20:48 +0000

In my last comment, you can find my Arbitration horror story on youtube titled My Money Pit, parts 1-3. I also have 3 “Bitch Sessions”, explaining what I went through and the legal system.

By: Jordan Fogal

Jordan Fogal — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:08:48 +0000

Arbitration is not fair, nor cheap but big busineses can despose of you a lot faster. Please go to my web sight. Pictures do not lie. Neither did we. http://www.jordan-fogal.com
Please read my testimony to the congressional hearing it tells how it is done in the great state of Texas. I stood out side their development for 9 months and warned people and passed out information. Our night mare began in our new home in April of 2002. The first night in our new $360,000 home the dining room ceiling fell in …it was previews of comming atractions. We have been forced though the arbitration process twice. How many times can they abuse you for tellling the truth? When do arbitration and its horrific effects end?

By: Brian Forsythe

Brian Forsythe — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:15:07 +0000

Hello,

My name is Brian Forsythe and I am an independent filmmaker doing a documentary on mandatory arbitration clauses in consumer and employment contracts. I am currently traveling the country, speaking to experts and those with personal experience with the process. You can see my website at http://www.arbitrationfilm.com. Please visit the site and contact me if you have a story.

Thank you!!

By: Crow

Crow — Fri, 22 May 2009 07:54:15 +0000

At Fair Arbitration Now, http://www.fairarbitrationnow.org/content/home-court-advantage-how-building-industry-uses-forced-arbitration-evade-accountability there is a new report out from Public Citizen, Home Court Advantage, about abuse of arbitration in housing. The report itself is a 60-some pg. PDF, but there are numerous articles you can read also. I have read the entire report now and found it excellent. Really exposes the sham that home warranties are, as well as arbitration itself.

By: ebragg

ebragg — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:07:32 +0000

Abdullah – what kind of case was it? Were you suing the insurance company or were they suing you?

By: Abdullah Muhaimin

Abdullah Muhaimin — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 15:06:07 +0000

Continued: I can not ever recall going to an Arbitration hearing. I was unaware of the procedures. “ The case is automatically put on the arbitration docket and set for arbitration within one year of filing. Both plaintiff and defendant are then required to comply with the expedited discovery rules, requiring each to disclose witnesses, documents, etc., even without being served discovery. Plaintiff must also itemize damages. Attorneys then prepare the case as usual, preparing for a hearing within a year. The hearing is set for two hours max. The case can be completed within two hours, usually, because of SCT rule 90c which permits attorneys to submit into evidence, without laying a foundation, documents that were exchanged 30 days in advance of the hearing. So there is no need to bring in witnesses re damages if you exchanged the bills ahead of time, etc.”

I was unaware until 30 days before my hearing. I knew that lady justice is blind, but know one said she was deaf and has lost her sensitivity for fairness and respect for the rule of law.

Also I did not know that, The hearing is conducted in front of three arbitrators who are local attorneys and who follow the ILL rules of civic pro and evidence, for the most part. When I entered the room both arbitrators and defendant’s Attorney were getting along very well. The environment and moved of the room was set with basis and the decision to denied award hand writing on the wall. Why do our laws and law makers allow this to continue with check. The behavior is that of Katrina making its way through our Justice System with defense or cover.

By: Abdullah Muhaimin

Abdullah Muhaimin — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 00:03:08 +0000

I received a letter from my Attorney stating that, I must be present November 19, 2008 for Mandatory Arbitration or I forfeit my rights. The cards are stacked when me when I walked into the room. I witness my rights being violated three minutes into the arbitration process. The Attorney for insurance company was able to inter opinions rather than facts about me. The thing that troubling is that there were no objections, when they presented an argument that did not hold facts. I came in good faith, but was not treated in good faith. What have our legal system revolved into? Since the arbitration hearing is over. We have come to know that, its come down to “Us and Them” thats all that matters as long as we win. I learn on November 28, 2008 that there will be No award from the arbitration panel and must file a rejection of the award at a direct cost to me.