Is the centuries-old Alien Tort Statute a prime target for mass tort liability?

Today's class-action lawyers are carving out a new and dangerous role for themselves within our society. Not content with the record-shattering $246 billion dollar tobacco settlement and immense winnings in asbestos suits, they have taken aim against HMOs, gun makers, lead paint manufacturers, and many other companies in search...

The announcedsettlement of the Vioxx litigationshows the weakness of the plaintiffs' claims and the weaknesses of the current pharmaceutical product liability law.

Media Inquiries: Sara Hunekesara.huneke@aei.org; 202.862.4870

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 29, 2008

Today, an appeals court in Texas reversed the $26 million judgment in Ernst v. Merck, which made worldwide headlines in 2005 when the first Vioxx case to go to trial returned a $253 million...

Drug safety is important, but so are the health costs from vaccines and drugs not marketed because of liability risks.

If the Supreme Court decides to take the Georginecase, it can allow the legal system to retrieve a semblance of justice from what a deplorable exercise in using injured plaintiffs.

If dead lawsuits can be brought back to life to inflict damage on defendants, the loss of legal certainty would be devastating to the ability of businesses to gauge risk.

Class action settlements avoid the mammoth costs and delay of individual lawsuits or traditional class action litigation.