Peter Smith
Series
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2017.
Language
English
Description
A case argued before the Supreme Court of the United States is one of great significance. First, consider the history and evolution of the Supreme Court over the centuries. Then, using Citizens United v. FEC, gain insights into how political and ideological dynamics within the Court affect the cases brought before it.
Series
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2017.
Language
English
Description
Start your whirlwind tour of torts with an exam question Professor Cheng gives to his own students: one that will introduce you to the history, complexity - and oddities - of this aspect of law. What behaviors does tort law expect from us? What harms can we be responsible for?
Series
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2017.
Language
English
Description
Use a 1963 Supreme Court case, Gideon v. Wainwright, as a window into the relationship between litigation and the American legal system. You'll explore why we adopted this particular system, how it works, and why we teach law in America the way we do.
Series
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2017.
Language
English
Description
Lawsuits today often involve multiple plaintiffs suing multiple defendants on multiple claims. How does this kind of complex litigation work? First, consider the rules governing "joinder" - when claims and parties can be joined in one suit. Then, turn to a familiar (and special) multi-party suit: the class action.
Series
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2017.
Language
English
Description
Turn to self-defense and get a better understanding of how criminal law tries to balance between the rights of the threatened and those who are threats. Along the way, consider issues including "the retreat doctrine," the "battered spouse syndrome," "stand your ground" laws, and the use of deadly force by the police.
Series
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2017.
Language
English
Description
Consider the mechanisms of a motion for summary judgment, by which a judge can resolve a suit with something less than a complete trial. Central to this are two important cases that highlight the nuances of this type of motion: Celotex v. Catrett and Denman v. Spain.
Series
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2017.
Language
English
Description
Trial courts, intermediate courts of appeals, the Supreme Court - different courts play different roles in our legal system. First, consider when a party is allowed to appeal a decision by a trial court. Then, consider the standards of review that appellate courts apply when reviewing trial court decisions.
Series
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2017.
Language
English
Description
Juries undoubtedly play an important role in civil procedure, even in cases that don't end up having a trial before a jury. Here, consider the virtues and drawbacks of having juries decide issues in civil suits, then explore the scope of this right as guaranteed by the Seventh Amendment.
Series
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2017.
Language
English
Description
Of all the doctrines in tort law, factual causation appears to be the most scientific and value-neutral. The truth, however, may surprise you. Learn why determinations about causation aren't simple, but do matter - a lot. Also, consider whether the causation question is more philosophical than scientific.
Series
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2017.
Language
English
Description
All lawyers have responsibilities to their clients and to the integrity of the justice system. But what are the bounds of a lawyer's responsibility in representing a client? What's confidential and what's not? For answers to these and other questions, consider challenges arising in the State of Florida v. George Zimmerman.
Series
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2017.
Language
English
Description
Homicides, according to Professor Hoffmann, are unique among crimes. Examine the pyramid of homicidal crimes, including involuntary manslaughter, second-degree murder, and first-degree murder. Also, consider several real-world examples that highlight the issue of culpability in homicide, including the case of Dr. Jack Kevorkian's assisted suicides.
Series
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2017.
Language
English
Description
During a trial, any lapse in a lawyer's attention could be extremely costly. Enter the task of voicing objections. Here, look at some of the most common types of evidentiary issues that might call for objections and learn why lawyers get only one shot at raising one.
Series
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2017.
Language
English
Description
The focus here is on negligence or other culpable conduct on the part of the plaintiff. What does tort law say about what happens when a plaintiff is at fault? Just how much of a two-way street is an issue like safety? For some answers, look to seat belts.
Series
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2017.
Language
English
Description
What are punitive damages? Why do we have them? How can the legal system rein in out-of-control juries? To get answers to these three questions, look to a case that's long been the symbol of a legal system run amok: Liebeck v. McDonald's Restaurants, or the case of the spilled hot coffee.
Series
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2017.
Language
English
Description
To understand how criminal law works, you first have to understand what a crime is. What are the purposes of criminal law? Why is textualism so important to distinguishing the bygone era of common-law crimes from those of the 21st century? Who are the key players involved in defining a crime?
Series
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2017.
Language
English
Description
In the first look at the Fourth Amendment, go inside the fascinating history behind the topic of government searches and privacy rights. You'll consider the scope of the Fourth Amendment, learn what defines "search" and "seizure," and ponder the role of modern technology in affecting how the Fourth Amendment works.
Series
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2017.
Language
English
Description
The U.S. federal government might be the most powerful government in the world - but it's power to prohibit and punish crimes is relatively constrained. Professor Hoffmann reveals the important distinctions in scope, meaning, and effect between state criminal law and federal criminal law in the United States.
Series
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2017.
Language
English
Description
Cases involving legal causation and the foreseeability test are the favorites of many law professors. Using one of the most famous cases in the torts canon, Palsgraf v. Long Island Railroad, discover why legal causation is so intricately linked to policy, our sense of justice, and moral responsibility.
Series
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2017.
Language
English
Description
This isn't about getting a case right - it's about getting a case over with. Consider the rules that prevent parties from relitigating matters that courts have already decided. What's the difference between prior litigation and subsequent litigation? Several important cases offer illuminating insights.
Series
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2017.
Language
English
Description
Continue looking at the Fourth Amendment. How do search warrants work? Can police enter a home without a warrant? Topics include the exclusionary rule, which provides that evidence seized in violation of the Fourth Amendment be excluded from criminal prosecutions, and the vague standard of "probable cause."