Ohio has a public policy favoring the enforcement of arbitration provisions in contracts and ORC 2711.01(A) provides that such provisions will be enforced unless grounds exist in law or equity for revocation of the contract.
The advantages include the following: The arbitration process is less costly and generally faster than going through the courts. Unlike in a court case, where the contested issue is heard before a judge, in an arbitration you often have a say over who will be the arbitrator.
The arbitration is held in a private conference room rather than a public courtroom. The arbitrator begins by presenting the ground rules; then each party makes an opening statement, or their lawyers do. Next, each party presents its evidence and, if necessary, brings in witnesses to support its claims.
Arbitration might be the right choice for some cases. Limited discovery rights and costs might be useful when less is at stake. Arbitration might feel less adversarial, which could be an advantage where ongoing relationships are hoped to be preserved. Arbitration lends some confidentiality.
There are some benefits to arbitration if something goes wrong for you alone because it can be easier and faster to navigate than going to court. That being said, if you would prefer to have access to class action lawsuits, then opting out might be the better option for you.
The Scope of the Clause. This section of the clause is critical; it sets the boundaries for which disputes the tribunal is authorised to determine. Choice of Rules. The Number of Arbitrators. Appointing Authority. Choice of Venue. The language of the proceedings. Finality. Exclusion of the right of appeal.
Arbitration agreements require that persons who signed them resolve any disputes by binding arbitration, rather than in court before a judge and/or jury. What is binding arbitration? Binding arbitration involves the submission of a dispute to a neutral party who hears the case and makes a decision.
There is no public policy in favor of forcing arbitration of issues the parties have not agreed to arbitrate. Citation. It follows that when presented with a petition to compel arbitration, the trial court's first task is to determine whether the parties have in fact agreed to arbitrate the dispute.
In some instances, you may be able to sue if you signed a valid arbitration agreement. While courts generally favor arbitration agreements, they will allow you to file a lawsuit if either you didn't understand your rights or your claims fall outside the arbitration provision's scope.
There are some benefits to arbitration if something goes wrong for you alone because it can be easier and faster to navigate than going to court. That being said, if you would prefer to have access to class action lawsuits, then opting out might be the better option for you.