Futures Arbitration Agreement (Optional)
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Any controversy arising out of or relating to my account, to transactions with optionsXpress Australia pursuant to the Customer Futures and Options Agreement between us or the breach thereof, shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the rules, then in effect, of the National Futures Association, or the contract market upon which the transaction giving rise to the claim was executed or the National Association of Securities Dealers Inc. If I do not make such election either at the time I notify optionsXpress Australia that I intend to commence an arbitration or, if optionsXpress Australia notifies me that optionsXpress Australia intends to commence an arbitration, by registered mail addressed to you at your main office within forty-five days after demand by you that I make such election, then optionsXpress Australia may make such election. optionsXpress Australia agrees to pay any incremental fees which may be assessed by the forum chosen by me for the provision of a "mixed panel" of arbitrators, unless the arbitrators determine that I have acted in bad faith in initiating or conducting the proceedings. Judgment upon any award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.
THREE FORUMS EXIST FOR THE RESOLUTION OF COMMODITY DISPUTES: CIVIL COURT LITIGATION, REPARATIONS AT THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION (CFTC) AND ARBITRATION CONDUCTED BY A SELF-REGULATORY OR OTHER PRIVATE ORGANIZATION.
THE CFTC RECOGNIZES THAT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SETTLE DISPUTES BY ARBITRATION MAY IN SOME CASES PROVIDE MANY BENEFITS TO CUSTOMERS, INCLUDING THE ABILITY TO OBTAIN AN EXPEDITIOUS AND FINAL RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES WITHOUT INCURRING SUBSTANTIAL COSTS. THE CFTC REQUIRES, HOWEVER, THAT EACH CUSTOMER INDIVIDUALLY EXAMINE THE RELATIVE MERITS OF ARBITRATION AND THAT YOUR CONSENT TO THIS ARBITRATION AGREEMENT BE VOLUNTARY.
BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, YOU (1) MAY BE WAIVING YOUR RIGHT TO SUE IN A COURT OF LAW; AND (2) ARE AGREEING TO BE BOUND BY ARBITRATION OF ANY CLAIMS OR COUNTERCLAIMS WHICH YOU OR optionsXpress Australia MAY SUBMIT TO ARBITRATION UNDER THIS AGREEMENT. YOU ARE NOT, HOWEVER, WAIVING YOUR RIGHT TO ELECT INSTEAD TO PETITION THE CFTC TO INSTITUTE REPARATIONS PROCEEDINGS UNDER SECTION 14 OF THE COMMODITY EXCHANGE ACT WITH RESPECT TO ANY DISPUTE WHICH MAY BE ARBITRATED PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT. IN THE EVENT A DISPUTE ARISES, YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED IF optionsXpress Australia INTENDS TO SUBMIT THE DISPUTE TO ARBITRATION. IF YOU BELIEVE A VIOLATION OF THE COMMODITY EXCHANGE ACT IS INVOLVED AND IF YOU PREFER TO REQUEST A SECTION 14 "REPARATION" PROCEEDING BEFORE THE CFTC, YOU WILL HAVE 45 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF SUCH NOTICE IN WHICH TO MAKE THAT ELECTION. YOU NEED NOT SIGN THIS AGREEMENT TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT WITH optionsXpress Australia. See 17 CFR 166.5.
Ver. OPT_ARB_optionsXpress Australia_092005
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