RSS FeedInterview with the Author of “Life Without Lawyers”
Law schools on both sides of the border are graduating more lawyers than ever before. What effect will the influx of lawyers have on the profession and on the litigation culture in the United States and Canada? Has litigation become America’s national sport? Has frivolous litigation reached crisis levels?
I spoke with Philip K. Howard, best-selling author of the new book, Life Without Lawyers: Liberating America from Too Much Law, to find answers to these questions, and to find out what can be done to bring common sense back into the courtroom.
Howard is himself a lawyer and legal reform activist; he is the founder and chair of Common Good, a “nonprofit, nonpartisan legal reform coalition dedicated to restoring common sense to America.” He also contributes to the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.
New Proposed Apology Legislation in Ontario
Just over a month ago I said on Slaw,
…government officials should also review legislation relating to liability of public apologies so that responsible companies like Maple Leaf are not penalized in the process.
It seems someone was paying attention.
A new proposed law would address this issue. The Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario said in a release today,
The Apology Act would, if passed:
- Allow individuals and organizations, such as hospitals and other public institutions, to apologize for an accident or wrongdoing, without it being used as evidence of liability in a civil legal proceeding under provincial law
- Help victims by acknowledging that harm has been done to them — an apology is often key to the healing process
- Promote accountability, transparency and patient safety by allowing open and frank discussions between patients and health care providers
- Enhance the affordability and speed of the justice system by fostering the resolution of civil disputes and shortening or avoiding litigation.
B.C., Manitoba, and Saskatchewan have already enacted similar legislation.
xPD from Slaw.
