Federalism versus the Greater Good ... Should Powerful Franchisors Be Allowed to Contract for the Home Court Advantage through Forum Selection Clauses - KKW Enterprises, Inc. v. Gloria Jean's Gourmet Coffees Franchising Corp.

When Congress condified the Federal Arbitration Act (F.A.A.), it sought to make arbitration a viable alternative to tradition litigation. Since the enactment of the FAA, the United States Supreme Court has addressed and answered numerous issues regarding the functioning of the FAA. However, the Supreme Court has yet to determine whether the FAA preempts state laws that invalidate forum selection clauses contained in franchise agreements. In Gloria Jean's, the First Circuit Court of Appeals squarely faced this issue and held that the FAA preempts state laws that attempt to negate the terms contained in a forum selection provision of a franchise agreement.