Supreme Court Upholds Class-Action Ban in Arbitration Agreements

On April 27, 2011, the Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in AT&T Mobility LLC v. Concepcion, No. 09-893 (U.S. 2011), holding that arbitration agreements banning class actions are enforceable — even in jurisdictions that, as a matter of common law, deem such bans unconscionable. The decision curtails the ability of states to regulate arbitration agreements, placing greater emphasis on their plain terms.