Oh, The Horrors

Imagine the dark, depressing dystopia that would envelope our State if this proposed bill regulating arbitration provisions in consumer contracts were by some miracle to pass:

Among some of the provisions of the bill, sponsored by Sen. Ted Deutch, a Boca Raton Democrat whose district includes a portion of Broward County, are:

• Any arbitration notice must state the parties are entitled to representation.

• Corporations would have to disclose arbitration expenses, including filing fees, and the cost for arbitrators and hearing rooms.

• Any arbitration organization that administers 10 or more consumer arbitrations a year would have to disclose: the number of times a corporation has been party to an arbitration by the firm; whether the consumer was represented by a lawyer; how the case was resolved; the amount claimed and the amount awarded, and the name of the arbitrator and his fee.

• Arbitration awards can be tossed if the ``award is not supported by substantial evidence.''

''The idea is to ensure the system isn't so heavily weighted against the consumer,'' said Deutch, a lawyer. A similar bill by Jacksonville Republican Charles McBurney, a lawyer, was filed in the House on Thursday.

The legislation doesn't sit well with some businesses and arbitration firms.

Good god Frank Petosa, or should I say Fallon from that crappy Emilio Estevez film Judgment Night, you are truly dedicated to the destruction of our way of life -- in fact, all we hold dear.

Signed,

AutoNation -- the company that cares!