In this no-holds-barred political broadside, a rising journalistic star accuses the Republican party and corporate interests of robbing from Americans one of their chief civil liberties--the right to sue.

Baseless lawsuits encourage the notion that individuals can engage in risky behavior, then force someone else to pay for their mistakes. That's the premise underlying litigation against manufacturers of cigarettes, guns, lead paint, fatty foods, and alcoholic beverages." "Meanwhile, our antitrust laws have been co-opted by frustrated competitors who curry favor with bureaucrats to attack market leaders such as Microsoft. In effect, antitrust is now a subsidy used to promote the parochial interests of politically favored companies." In Shakedown, Robert A. Levy uncovers the worst abuses of a judicial system run amok, then offers concrete proposals to fix the problems.

Drawing upon insights from law and politics, Multi-Party Litigation outlines the historical development, political design, and regulatory desirability of multi-party litigation strategies in cross-national perspective and describes a battle being fought on multiple fronts by competing interests. By addressing the potential and constraints of litigation, this book offers a comprehensive account of an international issue that will interest students and practitioners of law, politics, and public policy.

Why are there so many frivolous lawsuits? How much money does America waste on litigation every year? Out of Balance counts the cost of our out-of-control litigation system and identifies the legal procedures and economic incentives that effectively reward lawyers who pursue weak and even silly legal claims. Using real world examples, Jonathan B. Wilson (an attorney and the general counsel of a publicly traded company) describes how the pursuit of attorneys' fees rests at the heart of our litigation system. He recounts alternative proposals to change the law and sets out prescriptions for reform designed to deter cases that should never be filed and resolve those that are. "[Out of Balance shows] how the American justice system front-loads scanty information, unpredictability, and the certainty of escalating legal costs to leverage weak or non-meritorious cases and victimize defendants of every kind." --John H. Sullivan, President, Civil Justice Association of California "Wilson takes an evenhanded approach to the subject of lawsuit reform, reporting in equal measure the clear evidence of America's runaway tort system that favors trial lawyers and the alternatives for systemic procedural reform that will level the playing field for all participants in the legal system. . . . [Out of Balance is] a behind-the-scenes user's guide for reform-minded business advocates and lawmakers who want to fight back and win."--Steven B. Hantler, DaimlerChrysler Out of Balance is an invaluable guide for changing our legal system and restoring its sense of balance and fairness.

Throughout America and around the world, the United States has been known as a beacon of hope and opportunity, the land of the free and the home of the brave. Sadly, from the crumbling urban ghetto of Detroit to the cash-strapped shores of California to the rust belt of the Midwest, America is not living up to that promise. Except in Texas. While unemployment soars elsewhere, Texans are hard at work. While small businesses across the country are going under, Texas entrepreneurs are thriving. While large companies are being squeezed by taxes, regulations and unions, more and more corporations are moving to Texas to grow and expand. While people of faith are ridiculed and marginalized in most cities on both coasts, in Texas churches and synagogues are bursting at the seams. How did Texas embrace what the rest of America seems to have forgotten? In Lonestar America, popular talk radio show host Mark Davis presents a powerful case for economic prosperity, individual freedom, strong families, and even stronger pride of place – alive and kicking in Texas, and easily exportable to the rest of America. Davis shows how Texas has done it, how some “honorary Texans” in other states (governors and even local communities) have adopted some of the same policies and approaches, and how states across the country can reclaim the promise of the American dream.