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Who Pays Arbitration Fees? The Unanswered Question In Circuit City Stores, Inc. V. Adams, Melissa G. Lamm

Campbell Law Review

As courts and administrative agencies are becoming busier and litigation more complex, many today see alternative dispute resolution, specifically arbitration, as a way to promptly and efficiently resolve disputes. Arbitration, especially in light of the recent United States Supreme Court decision in Circuit City Stores, Inc. v. Adams, is becoming more common in employer-employee, business-customer, and business- business relationships. The Court held in Circuit City that the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) applies to nearly all interstate employment relationships. The challenge before the courts now is determining who should bear the burden of paying for the arbitration of disputes.