Ideological Flip-Flop: American Liberals Are Now the Primary Supporters of Tort Law

Sugarman, Stephen D.

doi:10.2139/ssrn.925244

Abstract

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Ideological Flip-Flop: American Liberals Are Now the Primary Supporters of Tort Law

Stephen D. Sugarman

University of California, Berkeley - School of Law

January 17, 2005

UC Berkeley Public Law Research Paper No. 925244

Abstract:
This essay explores in ideological terms the transformation in who supports American tort law. Traditionally structured to function to favor defendants, tort law around 1960 was a regime that conservatives defended and liberals sought to replace or reform. Today, many on the left embrace tort law, and it is the right that is pushing for "tort reform." Along with this ideological somersault, American tort law has become much more politically prominent.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 21

Keywords: torts

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Date posted: August 19, 2006

Suggested Citation

Sugarman, Stephen D., Ideological Flip-Flop: American Liberals Are Now the Primary Supporters of Tort Law (January 17, 2005). UC Berkeley Public Law Research Paper No. 925244. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=925244 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.925244

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Stephen D. Sugarman (Contact Author)

University of California, Berkeley - School of Law ( email )

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HOME PAGE: http://www.law.berkeley.edu/faculty/sugarmans