Lauren Taylor

IF YOU’VE EVER SIGNED UP FOR A CELL PHONE CONTRACT OR A STREAMING SERVICE, OR CREATED AN ACCOUNT ON A WEBSITE, YOU’VE PROBABLY GAVE UP YOUR RIGHT TO SUE THE COMPANY FOR MISCONDUCT. MOST OF US ARE NOT EVEN AWARE OF IT. BUT THIS WEEK, THAT REALITY WAS THE CENTER OF A CASE INVOLVING A LAWSUIT AGAINST DISNEY.

JEFFERY PICCOLO HAS FILED A WRONG DEATH LAWSUIT AGAINST DISNEY, CLAIMS HIS WIFE DIED FROM AN ALLERGIC REACTION AFTER THEY DINED AT A DISNEY SPRINGS RESTAURANT.

DISNEY DENIED ANY WRONGFUL CONDUCT. THE COMPANY ARGUED THAT PICCOLO WAIVED HIS RIGHT TO SUE TWICE. ONCE WHEN HE SIGNED UP FOR DISNEY PLUS AND ONCE WHEN HE USED DISNEY’S WEBSITE TO BUY PARK TICKETS. DEEP IN THE FINE PRINT OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS WAS A CLAUSE AGREEING TO RESOLVE DISPUTES THROUGH ARBITRATION RATHER THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM. THE CASE CATCHED PUBLIC ATTENTION, AND DISNEY CHANGED COURSE AMID THE OUTCAST.

WE SIGN UP FOR SERVICES, CHECK THE BOX THAT WE AGREE TO THE TERMS, BUT THERE ARE ARBITRATION CLAUSES HIDDEN IN THOSE ARGUMENTS. WHICH MEANS IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG, DISPUTES ARE DEALT WITH PRIVATELY AND OUTSIDE THE PUBLIC COURT SYSTEM.

MOST US CONSUMERS ARE SUBJECT TO ARBITRATION CLAUSES, OFTEN WITHOUT KNOWING IT. IN 2018, MORE THAN 826 MILLION SUCH CLAUSES WERE IN EFFECT, AND THAT NUMBER IS INCREASING WITH THE EMERGENCE OF STREAMING SERVICES. FROM BANKING SCANDALS TO WORKPLACE DISCRIMINATION LAWS, THESE AGREEMENTS MAKE IT HARDER TO SUE COMPANIES IN PUBLIC COURT.

WHEN WE CONTINUE TO SIGN UP FOR MORE SERVICES AND CLICKING THE “AGREE” BUTTONS, IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE CLEAR OF WHAT WE ARE AGREEING TO.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THIS CASE – AND YOU CAN TOO. DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP – AND SIGN UP FOR UPDATES SO YOU DON’T MISS A STORY