Jury Nullification in Modified Comparative Negligence Regimes

Details

Author(s):
Publish Date:
June 29, 2011
Publication Title:
University of Chicago Law Review; Stanford Public Law Working Paper; Stanford Law and Economics Olin Working Paper
Format:
Working Paper Volume 79 Page(s) 945
Citation(s):
  • Eli K. Best and John J. Donohue III, Jury Nullification in Modified Comparative Negligence Regimes, 79 University of Chicago Law Review 945 (2012). Also Stanford Public Law Working Paper, No. 1874466; Stanford Law and Economics Olin Working Paper, No. 419.

Abstract

This paper analyzes jury findings from nearly one thousand negligence suits to determine whether juries in modified comparative negligence jurisdictions apportion percentages of negligence differently than juries in pure comparative negligence jurisdictions. We find that juries in modified comparative negligence jurisdictions are substantially less likely to find that a plaintiff was more than 50% negligent. This evidence of jury manipulation strengthens the case for pure comparative negligence, which we argue is already superior on theoretical and policy grounds.