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 pleadings, discovery documents, and depositions fueled media coverage of the scandal. Timothy Lytton shows how the litigation strategy of plaintiffs’ lawyers gave rise to a widespread belief that the real problem was not the actions of individual priests but rather the church’s massive institutional failure. The book documents how church and government policymakers responded to the problem of clergy sexual abuse only under the pressure of private lawsuits.
As Lytton deftly demonstrates, the lessons of clergy sexual abuse litigation give us reason to reconsider the case for tort reform and to look more closely at how tort litigation can enhance the performance of public and private policymaking institutions.
About this product: Can't wait to actually get a taste of the law? Heard that civil procedure is the make or break first semester course? This book has LexisNexis printed on the cover and tells the tale of your typical civil suit (which is and always will be a car crash) in detail and is a well inflated case excerpt starting at the preceding facts of an action and finishing at the supreme court's final verdict with plenty of pleadings and motions in between. Think you can skip over those questions at the end of each section? Do so at your own peril; my professors loved to raise the questions found in case books' note sections in class. Answering these questions will help you make the painful transition from ingesting the law to applying the law, try writing the briefest answer possible in the margin. 120 pages of the tedium you'll face your first semester.
About this product: IIn 1973, a young ACLU attorney filed a controversial class-action lawsuit that challenged New York City’s operation of its foster-care system. The plaintiff was an abused runaway named Shirley Wilder who had suffered from the system’s inequities. Wilder, as the case came to be known, was waged for two and a half decades, becoming a battleground for the conflicts of race, religion, and politics that shape America’s child-welfare system.
The Lost Children of Wilder gives us the galvanizing history of this landmark case and the personal story at its core. Nina Bernstein takes us behind the scenes of far-reaching legal and legislative battles, but she also traces the life of Shirley Wilder and her son, Lamont, born when Shirley was only fourteen and relinquished to the very system being challenged in her name. Bernstein’s account of Shirley and Lamont’s struggles captures the heartbreaking consequences of the child welfare system’s best intentions and deepest flaws. In the tradition of There Are No Children Here, this is a major achievement of investigative journalism and a tour de force of social observation, a gripping book that will haunt every reader who cares about the needs of children.
About this product: In pursuit of fairness at any cost, we have created a society paralyzed by legal fear: Doctors are paranoid and principals powerless. Little league coaches, scared of liability, stop volunteering. Schools and hospitals start to crumble. The common good fades, replaced by a cacophony of people claiming their “individual rights.”
By turns funny and infuriating, this startling book dissects the dogmas of fairness that allow self-interested individuals to bully the rest of society. Philip K. Howard explains how, trying to honor individual rights, we removed the authority needed to maintain a free society. Teachers don’t even have authority to maintain order in the classroom. With no one in charge, the safe course is to avoid any possible risk. Seesaws and diving boards are removed. Ridiculous warning labels litter the American landscape: “Caution: Contents Are Hot.”
Striving to protect “individual rights,” we ended up losing much of our freedom. When almost any decision that someone disagrees with is a possible lawsuit, no one knows where he stands. A huge monument to the unknown plaintiff looms high above America, casting a dark shadow across our daily choices. Today, in the land of free speech, you’d have to be a fool to say what you really think.
This provocative book not only attacks the sacred cows of political correctness, but takes a breathtakingly bold stand on how to reinvigorate our common good. Only by restoring personal authority can schools begin to work again. Only by judges and legislatures taking back the authority to decide who can sue for what can doctors feel comfortable using their best judgment and American be liberated to say and do what they know is right. Lucid, honest, and hard hitting, The Collapse of the Common Good shows how Americans can bring back freedom and common sense to a society disabled by lawyers and legal fear.
About this product: Although 25% of all physicians are sued for medical malpractice each year and 65% of all physicians are sued sometime during their careers, most medical malpractice claims can easily be prevented by following seven simple rules. This concise reference manual clearly yet succinctly shows physicians and physicians-in-training how to avoid malpractice claims, explaining in simple terms the basic strategies to preventing claims before they ever begin. Written by an expert medical malpractice defense attorney--who teaches malpractice prevention techniques at medical schools, teaching hospitals and medical centers across the country--and edited by a team of physicians, Physician, Protect Thyself is endorsed by physicians at Harvard, Stanford, Johns Hopkins, Dartmouth, Cornell, the University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown and Colorado, to name a few. Recommended reading for every physician, resident, fellow, intern and medical student, following Physician, Protect Thyself's suggestions will definitely result in the reduction of malpractice claims.
About this product: There is a lawsuit explosion!;Over 50 million lawsuits will be filled this year. So Sue Me! This 2nd edition reveals the little known secrets and strategies guaranteed to protect both your personal and business assets from any financial disaster. This book is specifically targeted to people who want to protect thier assets from lawsuits.... divore.... creditors.... and other deadly threats to their wealth. Avoid the 5 biggest asset protection mistakes. Get the inside facts on liability insurance. When corporations, FLP's, LLC's, co-ownerships, domestic trusts and exemption laws will and won't protect you. Go offshore safely and inexpensively. How to shield your assets from divorce, the IRS, creditors, and bankruptcy. Save income and estate taxes....and much more. So Sue Me! is designed to be your personal armchair and guide to a lifelong financial security. Delivering strategies that have been used and developed over Dr. Goldstein's 40+ years of experience. The trick is not making money, it's keeping it!
About this product: An excellent guidebook for healthcare professionals preparing themselves to defend against malpractice lawsuits at a time when one in four doctors can be expected to be sued. Well-written, instructional, timely and practical, it is a solid primer that gives the doctor or nurse a strong edge in the tricky, adversarial arena of malpractice litigation. This book is a "must have" for defendant doctors and an invaluable resource for every practicing healthcare professional. Don't go to a deposition or to court without reading this book.
About this product: "Some cases are too big for Small Claims Court and too small to interest a lawyer. But Win Your Lawsuit takes you step by step through the entire process of a limited jurisdiction case in California Superior Court. Take on common types of civil court cases worth up to $25,000, including: contract disputes personal injuries property damage cases business disputes Whether you're bringing the suit or defending against one, this plain-English legal guide shows you how to prepare a complaint, file and serve papers, participate in settlement negotiations, present a case and much more. All the forms you need are included. Written by Roderic Duncan, a retired California Superior Court judge, this book includes the legal insight and practical tips that only a judge with over 25 years of experience can provide. "
About this product: Gathered from the popular website www.StellaAwards.com, The True Stella Awards is an outrageous collection of Americas most frivolous lawsuits
Named for Stella Liebeck, the woman who won a multimillion-dollar lawsuit after spilling hot McDonalds coffee on herself, humorist Randy Cassinghams popular website chronicles the hard-to-believe and amusing claims brought before the U.S.courts. The most ridiculous of these lawsuits are given the honorable Stella Award.
In The True Stella Awards, Cassingham documents the most outlandish of these real-life cases, including: * The man who legally changed his name to Jack Ass, and then sued MTV because their TV show and movie Jackass infringed on his trademark and demeaned his good name * The songwriter who left a minutes silence on his record only to be sued by the estate of another songwriter who copyrighted his own silent song * The man who sued an amusement park after being the victim of the ultimate act of God: He was hit by lightning while standing next to his own car in the parking lot
Stunning and hilarious, The True Stella Awards reveals the extremes people will go to in the pursuit of justice.
About this product: America's foremost expert on financial protection tells how to protect yourself from ruinous lawsuits. "Jay Mitton's financial protection plan is a must for anyone who wants to keep [his wealth]."--Robert Allen, author of Creating Wealth.
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