Tort Law and the Public Interest: Competition, Innovation, and Consumer Welfare

Is it possible for the United States to sell innovative, competitive products, services, and technologies in the domestic and world markets of the 1990s without sacrificing consumer safety?

Is tort law—especially product liability, medical malpractice, and corporate officer liability—performing its proper economic role? Is it deterring undue risk and encouraging safety or is it chilling innovation and discouraging insurers from covering legitimate risks?

In this new volume from the American Assembly distinguished experts address the relationships between liability law, safety regulation, insurance, technological innovation, corporate decision-making, domestic politics, international trade, and consumer interests. The authors draw lessons for the United States from practices in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Community nations.