25 Doctrines of Law You Should Know

"I'll sue you! In this litigious society, everyone needs to know a few basics to avoid being snowed, cowed and generally abused. Even those who can afford to hire lawyers need to know what they are up to. In a non-jargon format, this book explains 25 doctrines of law that are most important for Americans on a day-to-day basis.When a conflict arises, what are the main doctrines of law that give one side an advantage? What do they mean, and how do they apply? When you can see through the jargon, the intimidation factor loses its power and you can concentrate on real issues and use these tools to take care of yourself.Some of America's doctrines go back to the 17th-century English Bench and have had a lasting impact on our legal system. Other doctrines are of more recent vintage but have had an equally profound influence. The author has researched 1000 legal cases and identified 326 different doctrines of law; of those, he has selected 25 doctrines that average Americans are most likely to encounter in everyday activities. In these pages he reviews actual cases to show how the doctrines apply in real-life scenarios and relates what happened in court.These examples and explanations provide handy background reading for fans of court-room dramas and, since any one of us may end up in court these days, important general education for every adult in the United States.The 25 doctrines discussed are: 1. Res Ipsa Loquitur2. Promissory Estoppel3. Respondeat Superior4. Doctrine of Sudden Danger5. Rescue Doctrine6. Doctrine of Comparative Negligence7. Doctrine of Unjust Enrichment8. Doctrine of Unclean Hands9. Doctrine of Unconscionability10. Fruit of the Poisonous Tree Doctrine11. Attractive Nuisance Doctrine12. Doctrine of Mitigated Damages13. Quantum Meruit Doctrine14. Doctrine of Sovereign Immunity15. Doctrine of Absolute Immunity16. Doctrine of Qualified Immunity17. Last Clear Chance Doctrine18. Open and Obvious Danger Doctrine19. Assumption of Risk Doctrine20. Public Duty Doctrine 21. Statute of Limitations22. Equitable Estoppel 23. Res Judicata24.Collateral Estoppel25. Stare Decisis As an accessible point of introduction for those interested in the US legal system, this book is suitable as a popular reference work for public libraries, auxiliary reading for business-school courses, a starting place for anyone caught in a legal conflict, and handy background reading for fans of court-room drama novels and TV. The doctrines of law have never been addressed in book form before. In fact, surprisingly little is on the market that would make even some basic principles of American law accessible to the public. Read more