And with a 5-4 vote, the Supreme Court decides to side with the fine print over the consumer:
Fine print in everyday consumer contracts can include provisions that require Americans to surrender their rights to file class-action lawsuits, the U.S Supreme Court ruled Wednesday, overturning a lower court ruling.
The ruling could have immediate impact on consumers’ ability to fight against companies when they feel their rights have been violated. It also raises questions about the future of class-action cases.
Consumer advocates roundly criticized the decision.
“(The ruling) is a devastating and far-reaching betrayal of the most fundamental principles of American justice,” said Nan Aron, president of the Alliance for Justice, a civil rights advocacy organization. “(The court) has effectively removed any incentive for corporations to behave within the law.”
***By a 5-4 margin, the Supreme Court overturned the appeals court ruling on Wednesday, with the majority essentially saying that federal law encouraging use of arbitration trumps state laws aimed at preserving consumer rights.
“Because it stands as an obstacle to the accomplishment and execution of the full purposes and objectives of Congress … the judgment of the Ninth Circuit is reversed,” wrote Justice Antonin Scalia in his opinion.
But don’t you dare note that the court is a bunch of reactionary right-wingers who will, every chance they get, vote in favor of the corporate whores. That would make you shrill and unserious.
This rule is probably necessary to deal with all the health insurance contracts old people will be navigating in the future under Ryan’s Plan to put all seniors at the mercy of the market and fine print.