Conflict of Laws

3 units

This course examines legal problems that arise from occurrences transcending state or national boundaries: choice of applicable law, constitutional limitations thereon, jurisdiction of courts, and recognition of foreign judgments. Although the course will emphasize conflicts among the American states, selected international problems will be examined. Conflict of Laws provides an excellent review of a number of substantive courses as well as Civil Procedure because the cases examined in Conflict of Laws cover a variety of different topics including, for example, Torts, Contracts, Property, Insurance, and Family Law. Several contemporary controversies raise issues explored in this course: the effect elsewhere of same-sex marriages validly celebrated in Massachusetts or countries such as Canada, similar issues regarding civil unions and domestic partnerships, the applicability of abortion restrictions across state lines, mass tort actions, and the laws governing "Cyberspace" - to name just a few examples. Regular class attendance and participation are required. The exam will be an open-book, three-hour test.