Mass Tort Litigation

SLN #: 26728
Course Prefix: LAW-647
Course Section: 001
Credit Hours: 3
Instructor(s): Grey
Course Books: View List of Books

Course Description:
This course examines the unique procedural and substantive issues that arise in mass tort litigation. Mass torts, involving hundreds or sometimes thousands of repetitive, individual tortious injury claims, continue to dominate the civil litigation docket as courts grapple with the compelling set of legal and social problems that arise from these torts. Using examples from litigation including asbestos, the Dalkon Shield device, DES, tobacco, Agent Orange, and silicone breast implant cases, the course will explore such procedural devices as class actions, the multi-district litigation statute, the Class Action Fairness Act, and joint trials. It will also focus on problems relating to substantive tort and products liability law, including proving causation and the use of scientific evidence. More generally, it will examine the difficult professional ethics questions that arise in these cases as well as alternative methods of resolving this type of litigation.

Additional Information:
Credit Hours: 3
Grading Option: Numeric Grade and ONE-Time Pass Option is Available, or Letter Grade Only
Graduation Writing Requirement: No
Flexible/Upper-Level Writing Requirement: No
Skills Requirement: No
Simulation Course: No
Experiential Learning: No
Seminar: No
Special Withdrawal Course: No
Final Exam Given: Yes
Final Exam Type: In-Class - Completely Secure
Participation Points: Yes
Attendance Policy: Per Statement Of Student Policies
Additional Attendance Policy: Mandatory

* The law school has a policy that is used to calculate credit hours. Please see the Statement of Student Policies.