Addison Sandoval Partners with University of Oregon School of Law and Oregon Consumer Justice on Consumer Rights Research
"In the Interests of Justice" examines how legal doctrines can limit access to justice for Oregon residents
Imagine needing to stand up for your rights, only to discover the law wants you to take a cross-country road trip just to get a fair shake. That’s the reality for too many Oregonians, as Addison Sandoval’s recent research, released alongside the University of Oregon School of Law and Oregon Consumer Justice, makes clear.
Sandoval’s paper, In the Interests of Justice, zooms in on a pair of legal doctrines—forum non conveniens and forum selection clauses—that often lurk unnoticed in those digital agreements we barely read. These technicalities can let major companies insist that a consumer must bring any legal complaint to a faraway court, rather than somewhere accessible, like right here in Oregon.
Through a relatable hypothetical scenario, Sandoval shows how easily consumers can be shut out of their home courts. The report walks readers through the Oregon Unlawful Trade Practices Act (OR UTPA)—a key law that’s supposed to help regular people challenge unfair business practices. But as Sandoval points out, that help sometimes vanishes thanks to cleverly worded contract clauses and doctrines originally built for very different cases.
Why does all this matter? Because with most commerce moving online, and so many contracts reduced to a “click here to agree,” it’s easier than ever for companies to stack the deck. It means that an Oregon resident facing a genuine issue might be told justice is only available hundreds or thousands of miles away.
This research came together thanks to a grant from the University of Oregon School of Law, with support from Oregon Consumer Justice—a nonprofit born from cy pres funds after the landmark class action, Scharfstein et al. v. BP West Coast Products, Multnomah County Case No. 1112-17046. The goal: to spotlight the real impacts of these legal mechanisms, and start a discussion about changes needed to keep everyday justice within reach for Oregonians.
Sandoval doesn’t just lay out the problem; the paper also recommends how courts and lawmakers can better protect consumers—making sure doctrines like forum non conveniens actually serve the public and not just corporate convenience.
Curious about how your online contracts affect your rights? Wondering whether you could really bring a lawsuit in your own state if you ever needed to? Check out the full paper at Social Science Research Network or at University of Oregon Libraries.