Elder Law

Fight against Mandatory Binding Arbitration

By Levin & Perconti

Nursing Home Residents are often asked to signed nursing home contracts that contain mandatory arbitration clauses. When a person signs an arbitration clause they are unable to sue the nursing home even if they are a victim of nursing home abuse. Residents are oftentimes very nervous and busy when they enter a nursing home, and do not have the proper time to review each individual aspect of the contract. Forced arbitration clauses are buried into the fine print of contracts and terms of agreements of the nursing home. However, there is hopeful legislation pending in Congress that will allow victims of nursing home abuse to be able to sue their nursing home. The Arbitration Fairness Act would disallow employers and companies from using forced arbitration in civil rights, employment, consumer or franchise disputes. Ask the members of Congress to support the Arbitration Fairness Act, which will end the practice of forcing employees and consumers to sign away their rights to legal protections and access to courts. To sign the petition today, please click the link.

Full post as published by Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Blog on September 16, 2009 (boomark / email).