It's Walter Olson Day at GSU.

I teach a class to undergraduates as part of a program that tries to increase the likelihood that the freshman (and women) will survive the first year.  They take four classes as a group and the courses have an overall theme.  I teach the one in "Business and Risk."  In addition to my class, they take English Composition, Calculus, and Critical Thinking.  Today I am doing Tort Law as a compensation system.  I'd thought I'd link to the pages I am having my students read from Mr. Olson's Overlawyered.com. 

• http://overlawyered.com/archives/02/apr2.html#0419a (wrong defendant, but it has $$)
• http://overlawyered.com/articles/fumento/shockemf.html (junk science)
• http://overlawyered.com/archives/01/feb2.html#0214c  (class actions)
• http://overlawyered.com/archives/00july1.html (puntivie damages)
• http://overlawyered.com/archives/02/may3.html#0522a (pain and suffering)
• http://overlawyered.com/topics/lpays.html (loser pays)

We also do a case on the Ford Pinto Cost/Benefit Decision from Kip Visuci's Reforming Product Liability,(Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 1991) pp. xi-270, $34.95.

Next Week Tort Reform!

Just so I don't get tons of emails on the subject, I believe lawyers have a role in society -- I am not "Martin the Butcher" and my kids would be orphans if we took Dick the Butcher's advice. Note -- I didn't say Shakespeare's advice.

Comments

[David Giacalone]

Hi, Martin. Please give my warm regards to Walter -- oh, oh -- Olson.

Thanks for the link. I think you meant to link to this one oh, that Shakespeare, he just slays me!. So, I got a twofer.

Are libertarians allowed to throw themselves upon the mercy of the court? Do libertarians allow orphanages?

[Martin]

Rawlsian Libertarians believe in orphanages, social security, unemployment insurance, and other social safety nets! And ... if they are true believers, they believe that the Red Sox can win the World Series too.

[David Giacalone]

Rawlsian, huh? Well, Lou did sing a pretty good rendition of "God Bless the Child," on the other hand, what did he mean by "Your Good Thing (Is About to End)"?