Ending Forced Arbitration

This has been an incredible week on efforts to end forced arbitration. Research shows corporations use forced arbitration to save money. Americans possess a fundamental right to seek justice and accountability under the Seventh Amendment of the Constitution.

S. 2342 or the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault & Sexual Harassment Act will become law. The law will improve accountability for survivors of sexual assault and sexual harassment. The Senate voted to pass the bipartisan only three days after the House voted overwhelmingly to pass its version of the bill, H.R. 4445.

This bill will restore survivors’ rights to hold their perpetrators and the corporations who enable them accountable in court. They still keep the option of going to arbitration but it is a choice, not mandatory or forced into arbitration. The courage of the survivors and advocates who came forward at great personal risk to tell their stories to Congress was critical to the success of the bill.

The following groups endorse Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act:

The American Association for Justice (AAJ), Public Citizen, the National Women’s Law Center, the National Partnership for Women and Families, Futures Without Violence, Jewish Women International, Lift Our Voices, National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, National Domestic Violence Hotline, National Network to End Domestic Violence, National Partnership for Women and Families, National Women’s Law Center, Public Citizen, RAINN, RALIANCE, and Sexual Violence Prevention Association, the Malouf Foundation, the Elizabeth Smart Foundation and the House LGBTQ Equality Caucus.