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New Arbitration Appellate Procedures Change Playing Field
Franchisors have historically struggled with whether to include provisions calling for mandatory arbitration of all franchise disputes in their franchise agreements. One of the main complaints about arbitration from franchisors and franchisees alike ' and a reason many franchisors opt not to include arbitration provisions in their franchise agreements ' has been the lack of an effective appeal process. Until recently, arbitration awards obtained under the American Arbitration Association (AAA) Arbitration Rules could only be appealed through the courts, and only for very limited and uncommon reasons ' generally, arbitrator bias or an arbitrator's refusal to allow a party to submit appropriate evidence. If the arbitrator blatantly ignored the law or facts, there was little a party could do.
The rules have now changed for franchisors attuned to the recent amendment of the AAA's Arbitration Rules. Under the AAA's new Optional Appellate Arbitration Rules (New Rules), which became effective on Nov. 1, 2013, parties can now appeal arbitration awards for errors of law made by the arbitrator that are material and prejudicial, and for determinations of fact by an arbitrator that are clearly erroneous.
Bankruptcy Sales: Finding a Diamond In the Rough
There is no efficient market for the sale of bankruptcy assets. Inefficient markets yield a transactional drag, potentially dampening the ability of debtors and trustees to maximize value for creditors. This article identifies ways in which investors may more easily discover bankruptcy asset sales.
Removing Restrictive Covenants In New York
In Rockwell v. Despart, the New York Supreme Court, Third Department, recently revisited a recurring question: When may a landowner seek judicial removal of a covenant restricting use of her land?
Coverage Issues Stemming from Dry Cleaner Contamination Suits
In recent years, there has been a growing number of dry cleaners claiming to be "organic," "green," or "eco-friendly." While that may be true with respect to some, many dry cleaners continue to use a cleaning method involving the use of a solvent called perchloroethylene, commonly known as perc. And, there seems to be an increasing number of lawsuits stemming from environmental problems associated with historic dry cleaning operations utilizing this chemical.
Why So Many Great Lawyers Stink at Business Development and What Law Firms Are Doing About It
Why is it that those who are best skilled at advocating for others are ill-equipped at advocating for their own skills and what to do about it?
Blockchain Domains: New Developments for Brand Owners
Blockchain domain names offer decentralized alternatives to traditional DNS-based domain names, promising enhanced security, privacy and censorship resistance. However, these benefits come with significant challenges, particularly for brand owners seeking to protect their trademarks in these new digital spaces.