Litigation Nation: A Cultural History of Lawsuits in America

Americans have long been identified as a people of law and lawyers with an addiction to lawsuits. This national characteristic became so prevalent in late twentieth-century America that some legal authorities dubbed the pattern a litigation crisis. In Litigation Nation: A History of Litigation in America, Peter C. Hoffer charts the history of civil litigation from the seventeenth century to the present, using key cases that illustrate the central theme in civil litigation during different periods of U.S. history and enable readers to explore and understand key questions in American life and culture. Hoffer’s concise and accessible treatment to this history will appeal to general audiences as it examines both historical and contemporary questions, debates, and litigation concerning gender, discrimination, harassment, and workplace culture.