Supreme Court/ATT: Consumers' Right To File Class Actions Is In Danger - LATimes

[WillyT]

Consumers' right to file class actions is in danger
If AT&T has its way before the Supreme Court, any business that issues a contract to customers would be able to prevent them from joining class-action lawsuits, taking away arguably the most powerful legal tool available to the little guy.
By David Lazarus - LATimes
November 5, 2010

<snip>

It hasn't gotten a lot of press, but a case involving AT&T that goes before the U.S. Supreme Court next week has sweeping ramifications for potentially millions of consumers.

If a majority of the nine justices vote the telecom giant's way, any business that issues a contract to customers — such as for credit cards, cellphones or cable TV — would be able to prevent them from joining class-action lawsuits.

This would take away in such cases arguably the most powerful legal tool available to the little guy, particularly in cases involving relatively small amounts of money. Class-action suits allow plaintiffs to band together in seeking compensation or redress, thus giving substantially more heft to their claims.

The ability to ban class actions would potentially also apply to employment agreements such as union contracts.

<snip>

Link: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-lazarus-20101105,0,639054.column

:wtf:

Bow to your Feudal Lords, eh???

:mad:

[happyslug]

1. Some background on this case

Docket page of the US Supreme Court for this case:
http://www.supremecourt.gov/Search.aspx?FileName=/docketfiles/09-893.htm

Briefs filed in this case:
http://www.abanet.org/publiced/preview/briefs/nov2010.shtml#mobility

The underlying Ninth Circuit Decision (warning this is a PDF file):
http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2009/10/27/08-56394.pdf

Ninth Circuit list of Opinions:
http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/opinions /

Ninth Circuit Web cite:
http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov /

[WillyT]

4. Thank You !!!

:yourock:

:hi:

[WillyT]

2. Kick !!!

:kick:

[happyslug]

3. Duplicate

n/t