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AT&T MOBILITY LLC v. CONCEPCION Case Brief
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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis
tl;dr: The Supreme Court held that the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) preempts state laws that invalidate class-action waivers in consumer arbitration agreements, finding such laws interfere with the fundamental attributes of arbitration.
Legal Significance: This landmark case validated the enforceability of class-action waivers in most consumer and employment contracts under the FAA, significantly curtailing the availability of class-action litigation and channeling disputes into individual arbitration.
AT&T MOBILITY LLC v. CONCEPCION Law School Study Guide
Use this case brief structure for your own legal analysis. Focus on the IRAC methodology to excel in law school exams and cold calls.
Case Facts & Court Holding
Key Facts & Case Background
Vincent and Liza Concepcion entered into a cellular service agreement with AT&T Mobility. The contract contained a mandatory arbitration clause requiring all disputes to be resolved on an individual basis, explicitly waiving the right to class-action proceedings. The agreement provided consumer-friendly terms, including AT&T paying all costs for non-frivolous claims and a premium payment if an arbitration award exceeded AT&T’s final settlement offer. The Concepcions were charged $30.22 in sales tax on phones advertised as “free.” They filed a complaint, which was consolidated into a putative class action alleging false advertising. AT&T moved to compel individual arbitration pursuant to the contract. The Concepcions opposed, arguing the class-action waiver was unconscionable under California’s Discover Bank rule, which deemed such waivers in certain consumer adhesion contracts unenforceable. The District Court and Ninth Circuit agreed with the Concepcions, finding the state rule was a generally applicable unconscionability rule preserved by the FAA’s saving clause and was therefore not preempted.
Court Holding & Legal Precedent
Issue: Does the Federal Arbitration Act preempt a state law that conditions the enforceability of an arbitration agreement on the availability of class-wide arbitration procedures?
Yes. The Supreme Court held that the FAA preempts California’s Discover Bank Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in
IRAC Legal Analysis
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IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is the exact format professors want to see in your exam answers. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full briefs combine holding, analysis, and rule statements formatted to match what A+ students produce in exams. These structured briefs help reinforce the essential legal reasoning patterns expected in law school.
Legal Issue
Does the Federal Arbitration Act preempt a state law that conditions the enforceability of an arbitration agreement on the availability of class-wide arbitration procedures?
Conclusion
This decision dramatically strengthened the preemptive power of the FAA, effectively sanctioning Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nis
Legal Rule
The Federal Arbitration Act (FAA), 9 U.S.C. § 2, requires courts to Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate veli
Legal Analysis
Writing for the majority, Justice Scalia reasoned that the FAA's primary purpose Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim
Flash-to-Full Case Opinions
Flash Summary
- Holding: The Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) preempts state laws that invalidate
