Frederic G. Sourgens, Associate Professor of Law at Washburn University School of Law has published Equal Contest of Arms, Jurisdictional Proof in Investor-State Arbitrations, North Carolina Journal of International Law and Commercial Regulation, Vol. 38, No. 4, 2013. In his article, Professor Sourgens discusses the procedure for establishing jurisdictional proof in investor-state arbitral proceedings.

An interesting arbitration-related development has come out of the Washington Legislature. In an apparent response to a 2010 Washington Supreme Court ruling, lawmakers have amended the state’s Uniform Arbitration Act to allow statutes of limitations to apply to arbitral proceedings.

The United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed an arbitral award based upon breach of an unsigned contract. In Tricon Energy Limited v. Vinmar International, Ltd., No. 12-20100 (5th Cir. May 3, 2013), Vinmar agreed to purchase an industrial petrochemical from Tricon through the services of a broker.

Amy Schmitz, Professor of Law at the University of Colorado Law School, has authored an interesting article entitled, American Exceptionalism in Consumer Arbitration, Loyola University Chicago International Law Review, Vol. 10, No. 1, 2013; U. of Colorado Law Legal Studies Research Paper No. 13-7. In her paper, Professor Schmitz describes business-to-consumer arbitration policy in the United States and the effect it may have on cross-border disputes.