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J.D. Seminar 539 | 3 credit hours

An extraordinary feature of tort law is the essential role played by human elements in shaping doctrine as well as process. Behind the judicial decisions that create the common law of torts often lurks an arresting narrative, at times hidden by an appellate court’s dry recitation of facts yet having a significant impact on the final result. Human factors may profoundly influence other tort-related developments, such as legislative tort reform and procedural changes like the aggregation of claims. This Seminar will enable students to investigate and then write the story behind a significant tort decision or tort-related development, by exploring the personalities involved as well as the historical and socio-economic setting and other contributing elements. The aim of each story will be to reach a richer, more nuanced understanding of the case or development, and the reasons for its importance.

Students registering for three credits must fulfill the rules for the Upperclass Legal Writing Requirement. Students registering for two credits must produce at least 20 pages of written work.

Prerequisite: Torts (or the equivalent Bargain, Exchange, and Liability).

Students must attend the first class to be enrolled. This seminar requires a paper. Students must register for the 3 credit section of the seminar if they wish to write a paper fulfilling the Upperclass Legal Writing Requirement. The paper requirements of the 2 credit section will not fulfill the Upperclass Legal Writing Requirement.