Recent Developments in “Mass Arbitrations” (Presented by The Federal Bar Association Annual Meeting & Convention 2025 sponsor JAMS)

This panel will explore recent developments in the administration and management of “mass arbitration” claims. Faced with provisions in consumer and similar contracts requiring the resolution of disputes through arbitrations on an individual (not class-wide) basis, plaintiffs have sought to aggregate related claims through “mass arbitration” proceedings. Such proceedings have created logistical challenges for parties and arbitration providers, including for respondents required to pay filing fees that sometimes exceed the amounts at issue in the underlying dispute. Following these developments, courts have considered when and under what circumstances parties may be subject to consolidated and streamlined arbitration proceedings, including under…