The Predictability of Juries

28 Pages Posted: 2 Oct 2010

See all articles by Valerie P. Hans

Valerie P. Hans

Cornell University - School of Law

Theodore Eisenberg

Cornell University, Law School (Deceased)

Date Written: September 20, 2010

Abstract

This article discusses the meaning of jury “predictability” and whether jury research supports claims of unpredictability. It then analyzes the factors that are associated with perceptions of civil jury unpredictability using data from (1) surveys of corporate and insurance attorneys’ views of the civil justice system, and (2) the outcomes of civil jury trials in state courts. Perceptions of punitive damages dominate business and insurance industry attorneys’ jury predictability ratings. Punitive damages data are significantly and strongly related to attorneys’ judgments about jury predictability across states. This strong association occurs despite evidence of infrequent punitive damage award requests and less frequent occurrence of punitive awards.

Keywords: Juries, Predictability, Punitive Damages

JEL Classification: K10, K13, K40, K41

Suggested Citation

Hans, Valerie P. and Eisenberg, Theodore, The Predictability of Juries (September 20, 2010). Cornell Legal Studies Research Paper, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1686369 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1686369

Valerie P. Hans

Cornell University - School of Law ( email )

Myron Taylor Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853-4901
United States
607-255-0095 (Phone)

Theodore Eisenberg (Contact Author)

Cornell University, Law School (Deceased) ( email )

Myron Taylor Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853-4901
United States

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