In a consolidated appeal of two cases involving Credit Acceptance Corporation (“CAC”), the West Virginia Supreme Court reversed two trial court decisions denying motions to compel arbitration, and ordered both cases to proceed to arbitration. The trial court had found that the arbitral forums named in the agreements were unavailable, and that the agreements were unconscionable inasmuch as they contained a waiver of the right to a jury trial. It denied CAC’s motions to compel arbitration on those bases in both cases. The West Virginia Supreme Court reversed, finding that (1) while one of the arbitral forums mentioned in the agreement – the National Arbitration Forum – was no longer available for consumer arbitrations, the other entity mentioned – the American Arbitration Association – remained available; and (2) the fact that an arbitration agreement requires an explicit waiver of the right to a jury trial does not render it unconscionable or unenforceable. The Court remanded with directions to the trial court to compel arbitration. Credit Acceptance Corp. v. Front, No. 12-0545 (W.V. June 19, 2013).
This post written by John Pitblado.
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