Debbie Lesko: “I would also like to expand on several studies that have been done on this issue throughout the years. One is the Searle…”

“I would also like to expand on several studies that have been done on this issue throughout the years. One is the Searle study, another one done by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and another one done by the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform. In all of these studies with different cases, it was found that employees were three times more likely to win in arbitration than in court. Employees, on average, won twice the amount of money through arbitration. In this U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform report, it specifically said the employee won in arbitration an average of $520,630 versus in court, where the average was $269,885. It also said arbitration disputes were resolved faster, on average: 569 days for arbitration; litigation, 665 days. Both seem long to me. Mr. Speaker, 79 percent of arbitration cases were filed by employees who made less than $100,000. What I am saying is, let's not throw out the baby with the bathwater. Arbitration has worked. It has worked for years. It has proven repeatedly that it is more cost-effective. In the cases of these studies, the employees actually got awarded more than they did, on average, when they went to court. Let's not forget all of those people who have used trial attorneys. Mr. Speaker, you hear it over and over again, where the attorneys got all the money and the victims got hardly anything. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.”