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The article discusses the issue of anti-Israel protesters disrupting traffic and the potential legal consequences they may face. Demonstrators have been blocking highways and bridges across the country to draw attention to their cause, causing frustration among commuters. While some arrests have been made, few cases are prosecuted, leading to a lack of accountability. The article suggests that civil lawsuits could be brought against the organizations that facilitate and organize these protests, potentially leading to consequences for their actions. However, the private bar has shown little interest in getting involved due to potential backlash. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the use of the tort of "public nuisance" against anti-Israel protesters who block public highways. The author, a defense lawyer and co-author of a leading torts casebook, suggests that if a person can demonstrate that they have suffered harm as a result of the blockage, such as missing a medical appointment or job interview, they may have a viable tort claim. The author encourages individuals to pursue legal action in such cases. [Extracted from the article]

Anti-Israel protesters who engage in lawless behavior, such as blocking roads and disrupting public events, could potentially face tort liability suits for false imprisonment. While there is no precedent for applying this tort to road-blocking protesters, it aligns with the offense of deliberately and against the will of others preventing them from reaching their destinations. The lack of firm responses from law enforcement has emboldened these protesters, leading to calls for creative class actions to hold them accountable. It is important to respect protesters' rights to express their views within lawful boundaries, but it is equally important to ensure that they do not impede the daily activities of their fellow citizens. [Extracted from the article]

Reports that new laws in the United States are making it more difficult for plaintiffs to win class-action lawsuits so lawyers are looking for plaintiffs in Europe. Examples of law firms, and attorneys involved in cases, including William Lerach, Richard Schiffrin, and Melwyn Weiss; Why European countries are being encouraged to modify their legal codes; Stance of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce business lobby concerning class-action lawsuits in the United States and overseas; Examples of class-action settlements, including Laidlaw, DaimlerChrysler and Elan.

The article discusses the American Law Institute's vote to implement some changes to the section of its Restatement of Torts that deal with assault and battery including making it illegal to tap the shoulder if a Muslim woman to ask for directions.

The author comments on the arrest of New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver in January 2015 for the alleged elaborate kickback scheme and the reintroduction by House Republicans of a tort-reform bill.

The author comments on the tort abuse in the form of legalized extortion facing small biotechnology companies in the U.S. from lawyers of plaintiffs.

Letters to the editor are presented in response to articles in previous issues including "Let's Talk About How Islam Has Been Hijacked" by Aly Salem and the editorial "Tort Blowout Preventer," both in the October 27, 2014, issue, and "The Other Senate Nuclear Options" by Glenn McCullough Jr. in the October 27, 2014, issue.

The editorial looks at lawsuits which make tort claims based on characterizing pollution as a public nuisance as of 2014, calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the U.S. Appeals Court decision in such a case, GenOn Power v. Bell, and criticizing environmental groups and tort lawyers.

Two letters to the editor are presented in response to the editorial "Alien Tort Invasion--II" in the October 5, 2012 issue, which discusses the U.S. Alien Tort Statute and allegedly frivolous lawsuits filed by foreign citizens against U.S. defendants regarding purported human rights violations.

The author comments on Texas Governor Rick Perry's proposal to implement a loser pays rule similar to that in Great in Britain in tort litigation.

The author comments on the legality of the mass climate tort.

The author reflects on the basic principles of tort law and explains why British petroleum company BP should be held fully liable for all economic damages brought about by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The author comments on how transnational court cases are being handled where what happens inside the courtroom does not reflect what really happened outside due to the use of public relations campaigns complete with documentaries and political lobbying.

The article reports on the decision of two provincial courts in China in July 2009 to allow the lawsuit filed by the All-China Environmental Federation (ACEF) against polluters to proceed. For environmental movement, such action is considered a major step, since only few citizens in the country file litigations against polluters due to cost and concern over possible retaliation by local authorities or firms. Also noted is the launch of a new tort law in the country which covers an environmental section.

The article reports on a confrontation technique used by French judges as they sought the truth amid contradictory statements made in the slander trial that places plaintiffs including President Nicolas Sarkozy against former Premier Dominique de Villepin and others. Direct confrontations between defendants and key witness General Philippe Rondot were scheduled by the judges. De Villepin was accused of complicity in an alleged plan to discredit Sarkozy ahead of the presidential election in 2007.

The author discusses how Missouri cut junk lawsuits to cut costs, create jobs and increase the quality of health care under his term as governor. He describes the disadvantages of the tactic called venue-shopping that involves shifting a case to a friendly court regardless of where the injury occurred. He enumerates several actions taken to counter problems associated with junk lawsuits, such as putting a 350,000 U.S. dollar cap on noneconomic damages. He also offers an overview of the tort reform in Missouri.

In this article the author reflects on the tort reform issue surrounding U.S. President Barack Obama's proposed health care reform. She contends that tort reform is a policy that does not require mental effort. It is estimated that the benefits of reform can range from 65 billion U.S. dollars a year to 200 billion U.S. dollars. She highlights the influence of the legal industry on the Democratic Party, along with tort opportunities in the House version of the reform bill.

The article reports on the use of the Alien Tort Statute by victims of human-rights abuses around the world to file U.S. civil actions against those who violate the law of nations. The arcane law has been used to sue major companies for alleged complicity in crimes overseas, which include torture and murder. Among the prominent cases was a suit settled by Royal Dutch Shell PLC for 15.5 million U.S. dollars.

A letter to the editor are presented in response to the article "Obama v. the Tort Lawyers" in the July 9, 2009 issue.

In this article the author criticizes an attempt of the Auto Task Force of U.S. President Barack Obama to protect the other General Motors (GM) from tort lawsuits. The original reorganization plan for GM is to leave behind in the old GM all tort claims arising from car manufactured before bankruptcy. However, several state attorneys general and a group of tort lawyers cried foul with the court. The author think this attempt shows that the federal regulators recognize how expensive it can be to get caught in the sights of tort lawyer.

The author reflects on tort victories in Texas after its legislative session. He argues that 900 bills put forward by the tort bar were aimed at rolling back tort reforms passed in recent years. He applauds efforts by Republicans and some Democrats in preserving two-decades of hard-won legal progress. The author also argues that the state created more new jobs in 2008 than the other 49 states combined.

The author comments on legislation that would regulate tobacco products in the U.S. Information is presented on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tobacco legislation. He criticizes the legislation for allowing government involvement in the industry without any government responsibility for protection from damage claims that the industry would receive due to the law. The author argues that the legislation would encourage tort claims against manufacturers that fully comply with the content and labeling rules of the FDA.

The article commends Los Angeles, California Superior Court Judge Victoria Chaney for dismissing two lawsuits against Dole Food and other companies. The case against Dole involved banana plantation workers in Nicaragua who alleged that exposure to the pesticide DBPC in the 1970s left them sterile. Judge Chaney dismissed the claims and even said that the cases against Dole were a collution between prosecutors and plaintiffs. Chaney's decision to refer plaintiff lawyer Juan Dominguez for investigation is good for justice.

The author discusses the success of John A. Ulizio, chief executive officer (CEO) of U.S. Silica, in fighting the tort bar. She states that Ulizio says the tort bar saw silica as the new asbestos and had visions of his company going bankrupt, along with dozens of others. According to the author, U.S. Silica picked its suits carefully and fought off successive waves of litigation.

The article deals with the impact of the lawsuit, Bowoto v. Chevron, on how multinational companies conduct business overseas. The lawsuit was filed by Nigerian protesters against Chevron Corp., including Larry Bowoto, who was harmed by the military. Corporate executives are interested in the case because it is a major test of the Alien Tort Claims Act against a major corporation. It notes that it is the first time that the courts have tested whether a corporation can be held accountable for the actions of local authorities it calls in for protection.

The author comments on the decision of Wayne Country, Michigan Circuit Court Judge Robert Colombo Jr. to hear the case of physician Michael Kelly who is accused of falsely diagnosing asbestos-related disease in exchange for a $500 payment per person screened from tort lawyers. The author commends the judge for his decision to preside over trials though it takes time and effort than just going through a settlement. The author believes that the reason some asbestos defendants have pre-emptively settled is because court rules have been stacked against them.

The author comments on Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell's universal healthcare program. Pennsylvania passed a tort reform and created, M-Care, a malpractice insurance program that doctors pay into which reduced the number of malpractice suits but has not reduced malpractice premiums. The author thinks that the Governor's "Cover All Pennsylvanians" which proposes to raid surplus M-Care funds, will only continue the M-Care trend. Meanwhile, the author said that the number of practicing physicians has been dwindling.

The author reflects on the developments in the Tort Law as legislation's are made to increase the number and size of lawsuits. The enhancements include abolishing the protection given to prescription drug providers in Michigan, canceling medical liability revisions in Maryland, and revoking the liability reforms in the legislature of Florida. An overview of changes in other U.S. states is also discussed.

The article discusses the impact of reforms in the tort system in Mississippi under the governorship of Haley Barbour. With the passage of a tort reform bill after Barbour's election in 2003, class action lawsuits reportedly dried up and new businesses came increasing economic activity in the state. Because of this, new jobs were noted to have been generated in the last four years. Other favorable economic indicators are offered.

The article reports on the latest trend in mass tort suits. According to it, a U.S. jury found that Dole Food was liable to farmers for exposure to the pesticide DBPC used in Nicaraguan banana plantations. However, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Victoria Chaney overturned the jury verdict and threw out the whole punitive award.

The author argues that the U.S. Department of Justice has enabled doctors and lawmakers to commit mass tort fraud amounting to more than $30 billion. He claims that the medical reports to support the 700,000 or more claims generated by screenings of litigants for tort lawyers in asbestos, silica, silicone breast implant and diet drug litigation are bogus. He contends that doctors and technicians are responsible for the majority of bogus medical tests and diagnoses.

The author comments on the indictment of U.S. tort lawyer Richard Scruggs on charges of backing the attempted bribery of a state judge. He details the facts of the lawsuit filed against Scruggs. He notes that the bribe was allegedly in exchange for a favorable ruling in a case brought by lawyer John Griffin Jones against Scruggs and colleagues regarding legal fees related to the Scruggs Katrina Group litigation team. The author argues that given Scruggs' success in his legal career, the lawyer deserves a presumption of innocence.

The article reports that victims of an explosion at a refinery owned by BP Plc are seeking bigger fines. The oil company has agreed to plead guilty of environment crimes and to pay $373 million in fines and restitution. It will also pay $50 billion in fines for not safely operating its refinery when the explosion occurred. The 13 victims assert that the company should pay $11 billion in fines.

The article focuses on the medical monitoring debate arising from the recall of toys believed to contain dangerous lead paint. Suits filed against Mattel Inc. and RC2 Corp. called for the companies to pay for medical tests for children through the so-called medical-monitoring funds. Washington, D.C. attorney Victor Schwartz comments that medical monitoring is among the greatest divisions in all of tort law among judges. It notes a U.S. Supreme Court decision in monitoring fund for a railroad worker.

The article discusses how Medical Justice, a society comprising U.S. physicians, has succeeded in preventing frivolous tort claims and medial practice law suits. The society's members are sued at a rate of 2 percent a year, compared to nationwide averages of 8 percent to 12 percent. The society uses contract laws to define and enforce reasonable rules pertaining to medical liability.

The article reports on the scheduled trial of mining company Drummond Co. in a federal court in Birmingham, Alabama, for its alleged collaboration with Colombian paramilitaries in 2001 to kill three mining leaders near a Drummond mine in Laloma, Colombia. The case was filed under the 1789 Alien Tort Claims Act (ATCA) which allows foreigners to sue in U.S. court for violations of an American treaty or international law. The Drummond case is a first in testing ATCA in corporate cases.

The author comments on the announcement of the law firm of prominent trial bar lawyer Bill Lerach that Lerach was considering retirement. He said that whatever the legal outcome of the U.S. federal probe into Milberg Weiss, it seems the case is already serving up some de facto tort reform. He added that Weiss and two of its top lawyers were indicted more than a year ago for paying kickbacks to their lead plaintiffs.

The author reflects on the controversy over the way in which lawyers involved in the lawsuit filed by customers against Shell for selling misformulated gasoline divided among themselves the $6.9 million paid by Shell. He criticizes the argument used to justify the sealing of the amounts paid to the lawyers and customers. He presents information on the efforts by attorney Don Barrett to cover up the amounts paid to the lawyers.

This article examines the state of the business of tort law in the U.S. in 2007. According to the author, life in the U.S. is less risky than ever and it has fewer accidents, yet the business of tort law is thriving. He explains the reasons for his observation, as well as the procedure for tort cases. The author argues that product liability law should be allowed to evolve as a partial expression of each state's view of the allocation it wishes to make of the risks of living.