Tort lawyers give up punies; new trend is to swap damages for pledge of safety changes

Article Abstract:

Plaintiffs lawyers have started behaving contrary to the image often painted of them by adversaries and forgoing money to promote safety, as evidenced by a trend to trade large punitive damages for a corporate defendant's promise to prevent future injuries. Most defense lawyers approve of the change, although the more cynical ones caution that opposing lawyers know most awards are reduced on appeal. Whether such trades will become more common with the bigger and more difficult to collect awards should emerge with time.

Laws, regulations and rules, Remedies, Exemplary damages, Punitive damages, Torts

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Trial lawyers look to future; tort reform, election, image are likely grist for S.F. meeting

Article Abstract:

The Ass'n of Trial Lawyers of America holds its 1999 convention in San Francisco in July and will cover many topics, including the prospects for industry-wide litigation, the ever-decreasing viability of mass-tort class actions, as well as more limited class actions and asbestos litigation. Trial lawyers are emphasizing their role in promoting safety and representing injured people with nowhere to turn to counter the negative picture tort reformers paint of them.

Conferences, meetings and seminars, Bar associations, Tort reform, Public opinion, American Association for Justice

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