Via Court ADR Connection we learned of “Michigan Mediates!” a statewide mediation program launched recently by the State Bar of Michigan, ADR Section. The goal of Michigan Mediates! is to elevate awareness and use of mediation as a practical and cost-effective tool to help solve many of the complex problems plaguing government agencies, schools and communities. Michigan Mediates! will include state-wide trainings, public service announcements, and collaboration with grass roots partners including the 20 community dispute resolution centers throughout the state, the Michigan Supreme Court State Court Administrative Office, school districts, police departments, government agencies, and faith-based organizations. To learn more about the campaign, check out this press release. The program’s website (currently under construction) is here.

Following are this month’s recent developments in international arbitration law published by the International Law Office: France: Arbitrators cannot seek a ruling on the constitutionality of statutory provisions Portugal: Back on the right track: Supreme Court rules on multi-contract arbitration United Kingdom: Court of Appeal rules on arbitrability of shareholder’s claims Technorati Tags: law, ADR, arbitration

  Coverage of anti-arbitration bills is back. On October 13, 2011, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary held a hearing entitled Arbitration: Is It Fair When Forced? The hearing discussed the Arbitration Fairness Act and a report by Alliance for Justice, Arbitration Activism: How the Corporate Court Helps Business Evade Our Civil Justice System. The Webcast and links to witness testimony and member statements are here. David Lazarus at Los Angeles Times says that the bills’ chances of getting out of the House are slim. Also, Mike Sacks at the Huffington Post discusses the Arbitration Fairness Act and the Consumer Mobile Fairness Act in Arbitration Kickback: Supreme Court’s Anti-Consumer Rulings Trigger Democratic Bills. See Arbitration Fairness Act; S.987; Status. H.R.1873; Status ; Consumer Mobile Fairness Act; S. 1652; Status. Find our recent summary of U.S. bills related to dispute resolution here. Technorati Tags: arbitration, ADR, law

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court denied cert to Nafta Traders, Inc. v. Quinn, 339 S.W.3d 84 (Tex. 2011). In Nafta Traders, the Texas Supreme Court had held that the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”) did not preempt enforcement of an agreement for expanded judicial review of an arbitration award enforceable under the Texas Arbitration Act (“TAA”). Such enforcement was consistent with the FAA’s purpose of ensuring that private arbitration agreements were enforced according to their terms. See Texas Supreme Court Declines to Follow Hall Street in Arbitration Case: Nafta Traders, Inc. v. Quinn, May 13, 2011. Technorati Tags: arbitration, ADR, law