Questions Presented
Despite the prevalence of arbitration provisions, parties very frequently elect to waive their contractual right to arbitrate and instead seek to resolve their disputes in a court of law. Because this Court has yet to rule upon when such a waiver becomes binding, a broad and profound conflict has arisen in the Circuit courts as to whether a showing of prejudice is required to render such a waiver irrevocable.
Therefore, it is necessary for this Court to answer the following inquiry: Under the Federal Arbitration Act ("FAA"), should a party be required to demonstrate prejudice after the opposing party waived its contractual right to arbitrate by participating in litigation, in order for such waiver to be binding and irrevocable?
