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37 - Tort Law Decision-Making

Psychological and Legal Perspectives

from Part V - Other Legal Decision-Making

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 February 2024

By
Valerie P. Hans  and
Jennifer K. Robbennolt
Edited by
Monica K. Miller ,
Logan A. Yelderman ,
Matthew T. Huss  and
Jason A. Cantone
Monica K. Miller
Affiliation:
University of Nevada, Reno
Logan A. Yelderman
Affiliation:
Prairie View A & M University, Texas
Matthew T. Huss
Affiliation:
Creighton University, Omaha
Jason A. Cantone
Affiliation:
George Mason University, Virginia
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Summary

This chapter takes a psychological perspective on tort law decision-making, drawing on psychological theory, empirical research, and legal practices in tort litigation to assess the state of knowledge about decision-making in tort cases. It examines how plaintiffs decide to bring a lawsuit, how defendants respond, and the process of dispute resolution in tort cases. Most tort cases do not go to trial, but trial decisions remain significant as a framework for negotiations. The chapter also draws on psychological theory and research to describe how the judge and the jury as decision-makers resolve legal issues and reach liability verdicts and damage awards in tort cases. Psychological heuristics, biases, and other psychological phenomena affect decision-making in intentional tort, negligence, and strict liability cases, and judgments about liability and damages. The chapter closes with suggestions for further investigations of understudied topics in tort law decision-making.

Keywords

damage awardsdispute resolutionforeseeabilityintentionalityjudgejuryliabilitynegligencereasonablenessstrict liability
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Psychology and Legal Decision-Making , pp. 567 - 581
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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