Earlier this month, General Mills became a punching bag for consumer advocates when news of its unique approach to resolving legal disputes with customers came to light.
A new policy, tucked away on its corporate Website, announced that many customer interactions, including downloading coupons and even liking General Mill’s Facebook page, could bind customers to settling legal disputes in arbitration, meaning they surrender the right to sue the company. Arbitration, where a third-party reviews the evidence and rules on the matter, is often less costly and more favorable to companies than the court system.
