Supreme Court rules against Consumers in AT&T case
In its recent decision, the U.S. Supreme has struck a blow against the American consumer. The plaintiffs in the case had sued for AT&T Mobility, LLC for fraud, alleging that AT&T’s advertising of “free” telephones was false, wherein fact taxes were charged to the consumer on the “free” telephone.
The Court reversed a Ninth Circuit ruling which had held that arbitration clauses and waivers of class actions inserted in lengthy consumer contracts (for cellular telephone services) were unconscionable.
With AT&T’s recent purchase of T-Mobile, the number of cellular service providers is dwindling. With the Court’s ruling, you can bet all cellular service contracts will soon contain waivers of traditional consumer rights, and the American consumer will be in a worse position.
I’m lnkioog at the brief now and I think the criticism is overstated, especially based on what I know about how much Hibbs screwed up the doctrine.