Sarah Cole can clean you off the tennis court–here’s talking to you Michael Moffitt… Okay, now that I have your attention, let’s turn to how I know this. I am attending SEALS for the first time and I want to start by saying–wow–I should have been going to this all along! Great location, much fun, … Continue reading Live Blog from SEALS →

Registration is now open for the AALS ADR Section’s Eighth Annual Works-in-Progress Conference, which will take place this November at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles.  The Conference will begin with a welcoming reception hosted by Southwestern on the evening of Thursday,November 6.  Friday, November 7 will feature a full day of presentations, along with continental breakfast, luncheon and dinner … Continue reading Works-in-Progress Conference Registration →

The circuit courts continue to refine the definition of the term “customer” under FINRA Rule 12200.  A “customer” can compel a broker-dealer to arbitrate a dispute even in the absence of a pre-dispute arbitration agreement.  FINRA does not define “customer,” except for its mention in Rule 12100(i) (a “customer shall not include a broker or … Continue reading Second Circuit Adopts Bright-Line Definition of FINRA “Customer” For Arbitration Purposes →

Erin Archerd tipped me off that the New York Metropolitan Opera and the unions with which it is negotiating collective bargaining agreements, are trying to call in a federal mediator at the last minute to salvage their negotiations. The article is here: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/31/arts/music/met-opera-proposes-federal-mediator-for-union-negotiations.html?_r=0. In an interesting note, the article described some special sort of negotiations … Continue reading Mediation, Negotiation and the New York Metropolitan Opera →

FOI Jean Sternlight (UNLV) provides us with this guest post on the President’s recent actions on employment arbitration. President Obama today signed a new Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order refusing to grant government contracts of over a million dollars to companies who mandate their employees arbitrate disputes involving discrimination, accusations of sexual assault, … Continue reading Sternlight – New Executive Order Blocks Mandatory Employment Arbitration →

FINRA announced today the formation of a new Arbitration Task Force “to consider possible enhancements to its arbitration forum to improve the transparency, impartiality and efficiency of FINRA’s securities arbitration forum for all participants.”  The 13-member Task Force will be Chaired by Professor Barbara Black, my former colleague and frequent co-author, and will include forum arbitrators, … Continue reading FINRA Appoints New Arbitration Task Force →

Remember when we used to lament the fact that there were no mediation tv shows?  Well we had Fairly Legal which was farcically formulaic and often a bit silly.  Now we have Untying the Knot, a new reality series on the Bravo network.  The show follows New Jersey divorce attorney-mediator Vikki Ziegler as she “mediates” … Continue reading Reality TV Discovers Mediation →

The Federal Circuit recently handed down its decision in the CEATS v. Continental case.  If I were teaching Mediation this year, I’d spend some real time on it. Quick summary (oversimplifying for purposes of clarity here): Mediator appointed to patent case.  Case didn’t wind up settling, and it proceeded to trial.  After jury verdict, losing … Continue reading A Requirement Without Consequence? Federal Circuit Mediator Conflict Disclosure Case →

For those interested in the field of securities dispute resolution, check out this new blog, just launched by Securities Arbitration Commentator (http://www.sacarbitration.com/blog/). Here is its opening announcement: The Securities Arbitration Commentator (“SAC”) is just delighted to welcome you to our new blog, through which we will keep followers informed of key developments in the securities dispute resolution … Continue reading Securities Arbitration Commentator Launches New Blog →