In Defense of Tort Law

The media recently has created the impression that trial litigators often are vultures searching for frivolous complaints from which to extract millions in fees. Corporations seeking to avoid the consequences of policies which make seriously harm the consumer, the employee or the environment join with Republican politicians to reinforce this image. In Defense of Tort Law, Koenig and Rustad superbly demonstrate the reality and the legitimacy of many of the grievances that lead to suits against corporations. However these grievances are seldom adequately addressed because few middle class or working class individuals have the resources to confront multi-billion dollar corporations in long complicated expensive legal battles. The authors do an outstanding job of demonstrating that if punitive damages were eliminated, it would mean the end one of the few mechanism protecting the victims of corporate excess and the power of the corporation would be almost unlimited.

The media recently has created the impression that trial litigators often are vultures searching for frivolous complaints from which to extract millions in fees. Corporations seeking to avoid the consequences of policies which may seriously harm the consumer, the employee or the environment join with Republican politicians to reinforce this image. In Defense of Tort Law, Koenig and Rustad superbly demonstrate the reality and the legitimacy of many of the grievances that lead to suits against corporations. However these grievances are seldom adequately addressed because few middle class or working class individuals have the resources to confront multi-billion dollar corporations in long complicated expensive legal battles. The authors do an outstanding job of demonstrating that if punitive damages were eliminated, it would mean the end one of the few mechanism protecting the victims of corporate excess and the power of the corporation would be almost unlimited.