Multi-Party Litigation: The Strategic Context

Political scientists McIntosh (U. of Maryland-College Park) and Cates (Townson U., Maryland) explore the politics of lawsuits designed to hold corporations and other powerful entities accountable for their increasingly far-reaching actions. To construct a meaningful court-centered strategy, they argue, requires an institutional context that not only accommodates such an approach, but also holds promise for impact. It is that context that they seek to establish here, with discussions of theoretical, historical, and legal underpinnings; and mass torts and class action in light of the contemporary American political landscape. Then they focus in turn on litigation regarding tobacco, guns, and food. A final chapter considers the international dimension. Distributed in the US by UTP Distribution. Annotation c2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Wayne V. McIntosh is professor of political science and associate chair of the Department of Government and Politics, University of Maryland, College Park. Cynthia L. Cates is professor of political science at Towson University in Maryland.