We are thrilled to announce the release of the newly updated Seventh Edition of the casebook, Torts: Cases, Principles, and Institutions, published by CALI eLangdell® Press and authored by John Fabian Witt of Yale Law School and Karen M. Tani of the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.
Why Torts: Cases, Principles, and Institutions is Essential for Your Course
This is the Seventh Edition of Torts: Cases, Principles, and Institutions, a casebook for a one-semester torts course that carves out a distinctive niche in the field by focusing on the institutions and sociology of American tort law. The book retains many of the familiar features of the traditional casebook, including many of the classic cases. Like the best casebooks, it seeks to survey the theoretical principles underlying those cases. But it aims to supplement the cases and principles with editorial notes that focus students’ attention on the institutional features of our tort system, including features such as the pervasiveness of settlements, the significance of the market, the role of the plaintiff’s bar, the importance of private insurance, the contingency fee, and the jury. These institutional arrangements are what make American tort law distinctive. They are how the substantive doctrines of tort law are translated into the practice of torts lawyers. And they are sociologically fascinating in their own right.
TCPI integrates the institutional materials into the cases and notes rather than segregate them into separate sections of their own. It does so because its aim is not to teach the details of any one institution, such as the mechanics of the law of subrogation or workers’ compensation. Few one-semester torts classes can take up so much material. Instead, the book integrates the institutional material into the main text to draw general lessons about the massive, sprawling systems of private administration that American law has created under the umbrella of our torts system.
Benefits of Adopting this OER Casebook
In addition to its rich content, Torts: Cases, Principles, and Institutions offers several practical benefits that make it a superior choice for both you and your students:
- Cost Savings for Students: By providing free books to CALI member schools, we eliminate the financial burden of additional book costs. Students can download the casebook at no charge.
- Convenience and Accessibility: No more having your students lug around heavy textbooks that can cause back pain. The casebook is compatible with all mobile devices and tablets, allowing students to access the material anywhere.
- Flexible and Customizable Content: Published under a Creative Commons license and released in a variety of formats the casebook enables faculty to use and remix the content to suit their educational needs.
Call to Action
We strongly encourage you to incorporate Torts: Cases, Principles, and Institutions into your recommended reading list for the upcoming semester. Doing so will provide your students with a modern, comprehensive, accessible resource that enhances their learning experience and deepens their understanding of tort law.
To review the casebook, click here to download at no cost.
Best regards,
The CALI Team
