Press Conference To Introduce Arbitration Fairness Act

Coffee Beanery Franchisees to Attend with Others Harmed by Mandatory Arbitration Agreements

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Blue MauMau) – As U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI, pictured) and U.S. Representative Hank Johnson (D-GA) host consumer rights advocates and Americans harmed by mandatory arbitration agreements, Deborah Williams and Richard Welshans, franchisees of The Coffee Beanery, will be in attendance. The entire account of their arbitration experience has been reported and discussed by the Blue MauMau community the past several weeks. Feingold and Johnson will introduce the Arbitration Fairness Act of 2007, comprehensive legislation to ensure Americans are not forced into mandatory arbitration agreements in employment, consumer, franchise or civil rights disputes.

Others included in the introduction of the act will be Joan Claybrook, President of Public Citizen, and Jordon Fogal, who was denied access to the courts because of a mandatory arbitration agreement in her contract to buy her home. There will also be representatives from the American Association for Justice, Center for Responsible Lending, Consumer Federation of America, Homeowners Against Deficient Dwellings, Home Owners for Better Building, National Association of Consumer Advocates, National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low income clients), National Consumer Coalition for Nursing Home Reform, National Employment Lawyers Association and Public Justice

The press conference titled Preserving Access to Justice through the Arbitration Fairness Act will take place at 12:00 p.m. ET today at the U.S. Capitol.