Tort reform

The term tort reform is used by supporters of the controversial contention that reform of the American civil justice system is needed to reduce litigation's adverse effect on the economy to describe those proposed and enacted changes.

Related Topics:
American - Civil justice

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While the term "tort reform" would seem to imply any change in the tort law or procedure, the commonly understood usage of the term in the political and academic arena is to describe a movement that would reduce the amount of tort litigation. It thus does not include measures that expand liability, such as laws that create new causes of action. Opponents of tort reform sometimes object to the use of the term "reform" to describe the proposed changes to the law as a misnomer, because they believe tort reform proposals would make the civil justice system worse, rather than better.

Related Topics:
Tort law - Causes of action - Misnomer

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