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Contracts,
Alternative Dispute Resolution

Apr. 6, 2002

Chemical Distraction

The American judicial system divides along legal lines paralleling our social culture. Constitutional law, state law and federal law all affect litigation, enforcing mutual promises executed between parties in contract, compensating victims of intentional and negligent conduct in tort and prohibiting or limiting impermissible intrusions or use of personal and real property.

Lawrence Waddington

Neutral JAMS

Email: waddington1@aol.com

Lawrence is a retired Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge and former assistant attorney general for the state of California. He is author of "Disorder in the Court" at Amazon.com. He also edits the 9th Circuit blog, "The 9th Circuit Watch."

The American judicial system divides along legal lines paralleling our social culture. Constitutional law, state law and federal law all affect litigation, enforcing mutual promises executed between parties in contract, compensating victims of intentional and negligent conduct in tort and prohibiting or limiting impermissible intrusions or use of personal and real property.

Each of these categories involves a different mix of relationships between the parties, a distinct social env...

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