RAND Institute for Civil Justice

Since 1979, the RAND Institute for Civil Justice has been dedicated to making the civil justice system more efficient and more equitable. Our research is supported by pooled grants from corporations, trade and professional associations, and individuals; by government grants and contacts; and by private foundations. The Institute disseminates its work widely to the legal, business, and research communities, and to the general public.

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Research and Commentary

  • Reacquired Volkswagen and Audi diesel cars sit in a desert graveyard near Victorville, California, March 28, 2018, photo by Lucy Nicholson/Reuters

    The Globalization of Mass Civil Litigation: Lessons from the Volkswagen "Clean Diesel" Case

    Jun 22, 2021

    The Volkswagen "clean diesel" emission fraud litigation is a prime example of global litigation, a new form of transnational mass litigation. The case illustrates the features of global litigation and the problems that arise in the resolution of these types of claims across transnational jurisdictions.

  • One hundred dollar bill puzzle, photo by fatido/Getty Images

    Strategies for Effectively Allocating Opioid Settlement Funds

    Jun 14, 2021

    Opioid settlements with pharmaceutical companies have already occurred, and there are more to come. Settlement funds could save lives and mitigate lifelong harms from opioid misuse if they are allocated to the most effective interventions. States and communities have one chance to get the allocation right and to avoid some of the missteps that substantially diminished the potential public health impact of the tobacco settlement.

  • A Chinese meteorological department worker burns catalyst for cloud seeding and snowmaking to end drought in Beijing, China, February 17, 2009, photo by Oriental Image via Reuters

    What Are the Geopolitical Risks of Geoengineering?

    May 25, 2021

    Geoengineering is the intentional manipulation of an environmental process on Earth to counteract the effects of climate change. Geoengineering implementation could introduce geopolitical risks. This raises the question of whether existing international governance mechanisms can manage these risks.

  • A woman wearing a suit, sitting in an office, holding her head as if having a headache. Photo by katleho Seisa / Getty Images

    Well-Being in the Legal Community

    May 12, 2021

    The RAND Institute for Civil Justice brought together stakeholders in the legal community to discuss attorney mental health and substance abuse, including how legal professionals and educators can improve those factors for students and for professionals in the field.

  • Fourth-year medical student Anna Roesler administers the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine at Indiana University Health, Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S., December 16, 2020, photo by Bryan Woolston/Reuters

    COVID-19 Vaccine Liability and Compensation in the United States

    Apr 16, 2021

    Although serious vaccine injuries are very rare, the United States has two federal compensation systems for people who have been harmed from vaccines. In this webinar experts discuss how those who believe they are injured by COVID-19 vaccines can seek compensation for medical costs, work time, and other losses. [Virtual]

  • Detail of covid-19 vaccine vials and and a syringe. Photo by vladans / Getty Images

    COVID-19 Vaccine Cross-Border Liability and Compensation

    Feb 2, 2021

    In this virtual event, experts discuss the challenges in facilitating the global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and how to prevent liability and compensation concerns from affecting the vaccine supply chain and the uptake of the vaccine by the public.

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