famous cases
Liebeck v. McDonald’s
Stella Liebeck, the 79-year-old woman who was severely burned by McDonald’s coffee that she spilled in her lap in 1992, was unfairly held up as an example of frivolous litigation in the public eye. But the facts of the case tell a very different story.
Leaders in Law
John Barylick, Esq. - "Killer Show"
Lead Attorney in wrongful death and personal injury cases arising from the Station Nightclub fire in Rhode Island in 2003, Attorney Barylick tells the story of the fire, its causes, and its legal and human aftermath - a story of a horrific fire and the many petty economic decisions by a band, club owners, promoters, building inspectors, and product manufacturers, any one of which, made differently, might have averted the tragedy.
In less than five minutes, 96 people were burned alive and 200 more were injured, many catastrophically. The final death toll topped out, three months later, at the eerily unlikely round number of 100.
New Hours: Effective on June 20, 2019, The American Museum of Tort Law will be open only for special events/programs, or scheduled tour.
To schedule a tour, please fill out the form, below, or call 860-379-0505.
The Director's Cut
Insight from Richard L. Newman, esq.
In the News
Mentions of the Museum
Headlines of Interest
New problems demand new solutions. This is a story worth keeping your eye on
3 December 2019, NY Times
We note with the sorrow the passing of a good lawyer and a great man: Allan Gerson, who helped pioneer the practice of suing foreign governments in U.S. courts for complicity in terrorism
2 December 2019, Washington Post
What is your dog worth?
22 November 2019, Washington Post
Another tragedy of false imprisonment. Does $7 million for 23 years seem like enough to you?
19 November 2019, New York Times
The Boeing Airmax disaster just gets worse. Where was the FAA? Shouldn’t regulatory agencies, you know, actually regulate?
2 August 2019, Business Insider
Artificial intelligence can sift massive amounts of data, and generate surprising benefits. But at what cost to our privacy? This is a really serious emerging issue.
31 July 2019, New York Times
A troubling article that highlights the problems inherent in secret or confidential settlements. Secrecy may promote settlements, but impairs public information, accountability, and improvements in safety.
23 July 2019, New York Times
This. This is simply, unforgivably horrible. How do these companies possibly justify the foreseeable, preventable deaths of children?
18 July 2019, Washington Post
This is just icky. Why would the Federal Government try to keep people fighting nursing home abuse out of court? Remember – One reason for the Revolutionary War was to preserve the right of trial by jury. What happened?
18 July 2019, Public Justice
There is a phenomenon called agency capture, where regulatory agencies become servants of the very industries that they are supposed to regulate. And so now, kids will be at risk from a dangerous pesticide. Does that seem right to you?
18 July 2019, Reuters
Tort Lawyers, representing wrongfully injured people, are akin to first responders – they get involved and seek justice before there is a government recall or investigation.
12 July 2019, Bloomberg
First, they lost their children. Then the conspiracy theories started. Now, the parents of Newtown are fighting back.
8 July 2019, Washington Post
Years of turmoil and complaints led the Southern Poverty Law Center to fire its founder Morris Dees
5 April 2019, Washington Post
The Catholic Church snuck this provision past Maryland lawmakers. Abuse victims deserve better.
5 April 2019, Washington Post
Help Support Our Growth
Educating the public since 2015
Donate
The museum is funded by individuals like you.
“Fun, creative, visually stunning and provocative. By emphasizing cases where the civil justice system led not only to compensation for injured parties, but also to changes in corporate practice that made everyone safer, the museum reveals the truth about tort law—and likely leaves visitors with more sympathy towards it.”
Politico“The museum aims to describe the evolution of the law regarding negligence and liability, and it features some of the most groundbreaking cases of the late 20th century.”
The New York Times“The American Museum of Tort Law reminds visitors how unhealthy American lives were not so long ago.”
The Washington Post“The museum’s mission is to restore the idea that personal-injury law is not a way to line the pockets of a few lucky lawyers but rather a way to hold the powerful to account. As presented by the museum, personal-injury law may be the only way to hold a corporation accountable to the people it has harmed.”
The New Yorker“This nonprofit, educational institution aims to make people aware of tort law’s pivotal role in the protection of personal freedom and safety, and celebrates the historical and contemporary achievements of the civil justice system.”
ForbesAmerican Museum of Tort Law is a proud member of:
