Plain-English glossary
Forced arbitration
A dispute clause requiring claims to be handled by a private arbitrator instead of a public court.
Why it matters
Arbitration can be faster, but it may reduce court, jury, appeal, and public accountability options.
Words to watch for
binding arbitrationexclusive arbitrationwaive jury trialadministrator rules
In layman's terms
Instead of going to a regular court, you have to use a private decision-maker chosen by the company. This is often faster but gives you fewer rights to appeal or have a public record.
Plain-English example
If there is a dispute, you may have to use a private process instead of filing in court.