Un-Making Law

Conservatives are engaged in a campaign to turn back the clock on the common law-the law of contract, property, and personal injury-to increase the rights of big business. Some significant inroads have already protected gun manufacturers from lawsuits and hampered the government_s protection of the environment, for example; more rollbacks are on the horizon. Insurance companies and HMOs are anticipating a huge bonus if the rights of patients are severely curtailed by Congress.

Jay M. Feinman is Distinguished Professor of Law at Rutgers University School of Law, Camden