Kategoria BISAC: Law >> Torts

Late night comedians and journalists eagerly seized upon the case of an elderly woman who sued McDonald's when she spilled hot coffee in her lap as a prime example of frivolous litigation. But as Rustad and Koenig argue, cases such as these are an incomplete and misleading characterization of tort law. Corporations have successfully waged a public relations battle to create the impression that most lawsuits are spurious, when in fact the opposite is true: tort law plays a crucial role in protecting consumers from dangerous and sometimes life-threatening hazards. Without legal remedies,...

Late night comedians and journalists eagerly seized upon the case of an elderly woman who sued McDonald's when she spilled hot coffee in her lap as a prime example of frivolous litigation. But as Rustad and Koenig argue, cases such as these are an incomplete and misleading characterization of tort law. Corporations have successfully waged a public relations battle to create the impression that most lawsuits are spurious, when in fact the opposite is true: tort law plays a crucial role in protecting consumers from dangerous and sometimes life-threatening hazards. Without legal remedies,...

Judging by the frequency with which it makes an appearance in television news shows and late night stand up routines, the frivolous lawsuit has become part and parcel of our national culture. A woman sues McDonald's because she was scalded when she spilled her coffee. Thousands file lawsuits claiming they were injured by Agent Orange, silicone breast implants, or Bendectin although scientists report these substances do not cause the diseases in question. The United States, conventional wisdom has it, is a hyperlitigious society, propelled by avaricious lawyers, harebrained judges, and...

This nightmare scenario...

The sexual abuse of children by Catholic clergy is arguably the most acute crisis Catholicism has faced since the Reformation. The prevalence of clergy sexual abuse and its shocking cover-up by church officials have obscured the largely untold story of the tort system's remarkable success in bringing the scandal to light, focusing attention on the need for institutional reform, and spurring church leaders and public officials into action.

Stories of the tort system as an engine of social justice are rare. Holding Bishops Accountable tells one such story by revealing how...

The purpose of this book is to provide a clear guide to tort law, examining the main principles and areas of the subject. It includes text emphasizing the main issues of liability. The text incorporates relevant materials, extracts from leading judgments, articles and reports of review bodies on tort law. It should prove especially useful for those who do not have access to a law library, as for those whose library is under severe pressure from users. It will be useful to those participating in seminars and tutorials and will enable them to take part in a good level of discussion.

Natural and man-made risks have long been recognised as vital conditioning factors in the formation of social institutions and the conduct of social life. In this volume internationally recognised experts examine in detail the implications in practice of the modern concept of risk in particular legal fields. The chapters explore the ways in which the law in its many branches can accommodate, manage and reduce the extent of risk in the modern "Risk Society," matters of pressing importance for the development of all branches of law in all jurisdictions.

The fields of activity...