November 26, 2008

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. next Tuesday in midtown Manhattan:

Marie Gryphon, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute's Center for Legal Policy, has a new report exploring the likely effects of adopting a "loser pays" rule for attorneys' fees in the United States. Loser pays, sometimes called the "English rule" but actually, in essence, the rule in place in the rest of the world, refers to the principle that parties who lose in litigation must reimburse the winners' legal expenses, including attorneys' fees. This study argues that loser pays could be an important part of a larger effort to reduce litigation costs, better compensate prevailing litigants, and better align tort law with its goal of deterring socially harmful conduct.

A panel of legal experts will react to Ms. Gryphon's proposal, and award-winning ABC journalist John Stossel will discuss the broader public implications of the policy proposal.

I'll be among those offering comments in response. If you haven't been invited and would like to attend this event, contact me or someone else associated with the institute. (Space is limited and invitations are by discretion.) A response form with more information about the event is here.