AT&T Sues To Stop Merger-Blocking Arbitration Efforts

AT&T continues its road to world domination by filing eight federal lawsuits aimed at blocking a law firm’s attempt to stop the T-Mobile takeover via arbitration. The lawsuits were filed in response to a Bursor & Fisher law firm signing up over 1,000 customers looking to block the deal using the arbitration clause in the customer contract. AT&T says that the arbitration clause in its contract cannot be used for efforts such as blocking a takeover.

“This merger will provide tremendous benefits for customers and unleash billions of dollars in badly needed investment, creating many thousands of well-paying jobs that are vitally needed given our weakened economy — a fact that’s been recognized by consumers, public officials and groups of all types,” AT&T told AllThingsD. “However, the bottom line here is an arbitrator has no authority to block the merger or affect the merger process in any way. AT&T’s arbitration agreement with our customers — recently upheld by the Supreme Court — allows individual relief for individual claims. Bursor & Fisher is seeking class-wide relief wrapped in the guise of individual arbitration proceedings, which is specifically prohibited by AT&T’s arbitration agreement. Accordingly, the claims are completely without merit. We have filed suit in order to stop this abusive action.”

Oh AT&T, just run for President already and let your true world domination plans be known.

All Things D

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