Although perceptions of unfairness have long followed them, it took just one lawsuit to knock two leading arbitration associations out of the consumer debt resolution game. After a year-long investigation, Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson filed suit July 14 against the National Arbitration Forum (NAF) for deceptive practices, alleging it hid financial ties with debt-collection companies and law firms.

NAF refuted the charges and settled the lawsuit July 19.