What do an exploding car, Taylor Swift’s assailant, and a “killer building material” all have in common? In these examples, wrongdoers were brought to justice with tort law and trial by jury! The American Museum of Tort Law, founded by noted consumer advocate Ralph Nader, has announced its 2018 Tort Law and Democracy Essay Contest. A prestigious panel of experts—many of them law professors—will judge the entries. Contest details, rules, and registration can be found at tortmuseum.org/contest.

Who is eligible: All high school students, grades 9 through 12 in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Essay Length: 750 to 1,500 words, not including citations and bibliography
Prizes: First: $1000, and an all-expenses-paid trip to the Museum in Winsted, CT for the presentation of the award by Executive Director Rick Newman and Ralph Nader; Five runners-up: $500 each, and a book signed by Ralph Nader; Fifty best remaining essays: Certificates of Honorable Mention
Deadline: All submissions must be postmarked or emailed by May 1, 2018
Registration: The cost to enter is $15, (may be waived, see online Rules), and all contestants will receive an 18 x 23-inch facsimile of the Declaration of Independence, the document that started our country, suitable for framing.

Webpage: www.tortmuseum.org/contest
If you have any questions or would like additional information, contact contest@tortmuseum.org, or 860 379-0505.

BACKGROUND: Tort law—the law of wrongful injuries—is truly law of the people, by the people, and for the people, and juries serve as the conscience and voice of the community, and exemplify the power of citizen involvement in our government. As a result of jury verdicts, and the work of trial lawyers representing specific victims, the country as a whole is safer:  Products have been improved, or removed from the market; civil rights have been protected and defended; and the environment is cleaner.  Under attack for years, these two—tort law, and trial by jury— are more important than ever in protecting our citizens from corporate wrongdoing and governmental overreach.