The Center for Justice & Democracy publishes groundbreaking studies on a range of civil justice topics, from the funding of tort reform groups by Big Tobacco, to the importance of lawsuits, juries and judges. Individual copies of studies are available free of charge to certain Members and Subscribers of CJ&D. Contact CJ&D for information on ordering individual copies of CJ&D's studies. 

A Tragic Blunder; Michigan's Drug Industry Immunity Law
Study examining Michigan's unprecedented law that prevents residents harmed by dangerous drugs from gaining access to the civil justice system, which has been devastating for Michiganders while failing to accomplish any promised economic benefits for the state.  

How the Civil Justice System Protects Environmental Health
Executive Summary
Executive Summary (PDF)
Political forces can undermine the effectiveness of environmental laws or impair the regulatory system. This report examines why everyone should have the right to take action in court when their own health and the welfare of their own communities are at stake, and polluters should be held accountable for the harm they cause to ordinary people

Deadly Trade: Construction Safety in Illinois Since Repeal of the Structural Work Act
This report exposes the hazardous and deadly nature of the
construction industry in Illinois since the elimination of a safety law
more than 10 years ago.

Why Health Courts are Unconstitutional
This article examines current administrative compensation schemes and alternative tribunals and exposes the important ways health courts would differ from them. These differences will make the health courts unconstitutional under most state constitutions.

Workers' Compensation - A Cautionary Tale
This report finds that workers’ compensation programs throughout the country have been devastating for injured workers, leaving them to contend with an adversarial bureaucracy and inadequate benefits that render many destitute. Additional reports highlighting the workers' compensation situation in the following states can be found by clicking on the state's name: California, Connecticut , Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, New York.

The Secret Chamber - The Inner Workings of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Hijacking of an Election
Draws from the cache of newly-released papers and deposition testimony uncovered in connection with litigation surrounding the failed 2004 election bid of Deborah Senn for Washington State Attorney General, finds that U.S. Chamber of Commerce provides substantial financial and strategic assistance to local front groups to influence state elections, including funding major media buys to smear local candidates.

South Florida- "HellHole" Fiction
This report describes the major flaws in the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) “Judicial Hellhole” report, presents a wealth of contradictory information, and concludes that ATRA has severely misled Florida’s lawmakers and the public with this report.

An Analysis of the Claims Payments and Performance of Physicians Insurance A Mutual Company
This Report analyzes the claims payments and performance of Physicians Insurance (“Physicians”) based on the Annual Statements it has filed with the Washington Office of Insurance Commissioner (“OIC”) during the last 10 years and the additional statement it has filed covering the first half of 2005.

Falling Claims and Rising Premiums in the Medical Malpractice Insurance Industry
This study details how medical malpractice insurance rates for doctors have skyrocketed in recent years even though, claim payments are down.

The Fantasy of Health Industry Tribunals--Hitting Patients While They're Down
This study finds that Health Industry Tribunals (HITs), or so-called “Health Courts,” are deeply flawed and ultimately a horrific option for most patients injured by medical malpractice.

"Top 10 Zany Immunity Law Awards, 2004"
This report humorously highlights how our nation’s special interests line up before Congress and state legislatures each year to get special legal entitlements - immunities from liability – and sometimes for the weirdest things.

The Eight Biggest Myths about Medical Malpractice - and How to Respond. This study brings together hundreds of facts, sources, and arguments that show why states should not limit access to the civil justice system for victims of medical malpractice.

Lifesavers: CJ&D's Guide to Lawsuits that Protect Us All. This is an extensive compilation of cases that have led to major safety improvements. Includes 2002 Supplement.

Restoring Shattered Lives: A Primer on War, Terrorism and the U.S. Civil Justice System. An examination of the civil justice system and terrorism, war crimes and human rights violations that includes 60 completed and pending cases involving circumstances relevant to today’s world situation.

The CALA Files: The Secret Campaign by Big Tobacco and Other Major Industries to Take Away Your Rights. This study identifies many of the corporations, national lobbying groups and political consulting firms behind local "Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) groups, and exposes how the tobacco industry has concealed its leading role in order to preserve the CALAs' credibility in the public eye.

Premium Deceit: The Failure of "Tort Reform" to Cut Insurance Prices.
This study examines insurance rates over the last 14 years in every state in the country, and finds there to be no correlation between enactment of tort reforms and insurance rates.