Arbitration Carve-Out Bill Introduced in House

BBD has learned that -- even with all that's going on with the bail-out of Wall Street -- federal legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives which would exempt alcohol beverage distributors from the Federal Arbitration Act. The legislation, HR7076, would require the "consent" of all parties in writing if they wish to engage in arbitration or not with their supplier, rather than it being contractually mandated. The bill's language provides that "whenever an alcoholic beverage franchise contract