Comparative Tort Law

This course will consider the difficult decision each society must make concerning where accident victims should seek relief and what type of relief should be available. If tort law is the primary vehicle, what type of legal rules will best serve tort law’s traditional goals of compensation and deterrence? This course will address those broad issues by comparing American tort law to legal principles and compensation systems in other common law countries. Topics included: liability for “abnormally dangerous” activities; products liability; nuisance law; and a discussion of alternative compensation systems.