Amazon ends use of arbitration for customer disputes, which critics said put consumers at a huge disadvantage; disputes can now be pursued in federal court
Michael Corkery / New York Times : Tweets: @ddayen , @gregbensinger , @seattletimes , @shatter242 , @tdlenk , @bettermarkets , and @shiraovide Tweets: David Dayen / @ddayen : The arbitration storm strikes again, as Amazon drops the clause for consumer purchases. Importantly, however, arbitration remains in place AFAICT for the millions of 3rd-party sellers the company partners with. https://www.nytimes.com/... @gregbensinger : Mandatory arbitration remains the chief means for cos to have lawsuits go away quietly & not have to change the underlying behavior/problem. It's not really about the customer. Then Amazon was hit with 75,000 arbitration claims and flipped: @mcorkery5 https://www.nytimes.com/... @seattletimes : Amazon changed its approach to disputes after lawyers for consumers hit the company with roughly 75,000 arbitration claims alleging that devices featuring the voice-operated assistant Alexa were recording customers without their consent. https://www.seattletimes.com/ ... @shatter242 : @Techmeme @mcorkery5 After the recent walmart lawsuit they now know that the most they can be liable for is $300,000. That's nothing to them. They made that and more while I was typing this tweet. Travis Lenkner / @tdlenk : “Arbitration was always part of an effort to evade liability, not just to escape class actions,” said Travis Lenkner, a lawyer at the firm Keller Lenkner. Amazon “is the first company to turn tail. Others may well do so.” https://www.nytimes.com/... @bettermarkets : A first step in the right direction is a hopeful step. Like @amazon decision to end forced arbitration of customer disputes. But eliminating the jury trial waiver and not forcing plaintiffs to travel to Washington state to seek justice are key next steps. https://bettermarkets.com/... Shira Ovide / @shiraovide : Companies wanted unhappy customers to go to arbitration instead of suing. Arbitration isn't worth the hassle. Companies evaded liability. Lawyers figured out how to mass-produce arbitration claims. Companies say, OK FINE. SUE US. By @mcorkery5 https://t.co/PYusMfrwb1