Arbitration Agreements Favor the Powerful

I am glad someone is addressing the interests of those who must relinquish their trial rights in order to obtain employment or to receive medical or other essential services (“The Justice-at-a-Price Guys Take Aim at Arbitration,” Commentary, Aug. 13). Representing myself in an employment-related arbitration was disastrous: The arbitrator clearly was biased in favor of the employer, who by law was solely responsible for paying his extravagant fee and who also probably can be counted on to provide repeat business--as long as the employer receives favorable treatment in such proceedings.

I will never sign another mandatory arbitration agreement until the Legislature enacts meaningful legislation that adequately protects consumers and holds unscrupulous arbitrators and employers fully accountable for their illegal and unethical behavior.

Elizabeth J. Vaughn

Beverly Hills