The American Law Institute
Recent News About The American Law Institute
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ALI members question foundations of recently passed Restatement of Consumer Contracts
WASHINGTON – Subsequent to the American Law Institute’s approval of a Restatement for law related to Consumer Contracts earlier this week, two of the group’s members expressed concerns that the document may be a step in the wrong direction for the legacy of the venerable legal scholarship group. -
ALI approves controversial Restatement of Consumer Contracts at its annual meeting
WASHINGTON – At its annual meeting this week, the Philadelphia-based American Law Institute voted to approve a Restatement intended to give legal clarity to consumer contracts – a project which has been subject to controversy, since its foundation is said to diverge from established contract law in some respects. -
Member: ALI 'aligning' with courts that accept pro-plaintiff lawyer theory of liability
PHILADELPHIA – When it reconvenes this week, members of the Philadelphia-based American Law Institute are expected to discuss and further revise the group’s proposed guidelines on the topic of medical monitoring, a practice which critics say may expand damage recoveries in tort cases. -
ALI's Consumer Contracts Restatement may come up for approval vote this year, despite increasing concerns
PHILADELPHIA – At a virtual meeting this week, the Philadelphia-based American Law Institute is scheduled to continue work on a Restatement meant to give legal clarity to consumer contracts – a project yielding “significant concerns,” according to a member of the legal scholarship organization, especially since it may come up for a final vote at the group’s annual meeting this spring. -
If American Law Institute can't be impartial, judges shouldn't be members, group argues
WASHINGTON – According to one Washington observer, the Philadelphia-based American Law Institute needs to remain true to its mission of distilling and clarifying law, or else strongly consider whether it is appropriate to have judges as members of its ranks. -
Kentucky governor vetoes bill on ALI's controversial Restatement; Override possible amid coronavirus concerns
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Legislation clarifying that the American Law Institute’s controversial insurance liability Restatement does not constitute law or public policy if it conflicts with established federal, state or case law overwhelmingly passed in Kentucky but was vetoed Tuesday by Gov. Andy Beshear. -
Two more states pass measures targeting controversial Restatement issued by American Law Institute
PHILADELPHIA – Legislation stating the American Law Institute’s Restatement of the Law of Liability Insurance does not constitute law or public policy if it conflicts with established federal, state or case law recently passed in the states of Utah and Kentucky. -
American Law Institute 'at a crossroads' as it works on newest Restatement, member says
PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia-based American Law Institute continues its work on a Restatement meant to give legal clarity to the arena of consumer contracts - a project that has been put on the back-burner and serves as a "litmus test" as to how the influential group will be perceived, a member says. -
Lawmakers in Oklahoma, West Virginia the latest to call for rejection of ALI's insurance Restatement
PHILADELPHIA – Oklahoma and West Virginia can be added to the growing list of states seeking to formally reject the American Law Institute’s controversial Restatement of the Law of Liability Insurance - a project that some see as evidence of an ideological shift at the organization that amounts to a power-trip. -
Federalist Society panel contends the ALI, a powerful legal group, has shifted its focus
WASHINGTON – Is the American Law Institute remaining true to its mission of restating law to produce accurate advisory guidelines for courts to decide cases in various aspects of law, or is it straying into territory apart from that mission? -
Consumer advocates, business interests form rare alliance to block American Law Institute project
WASHINGTON - An unusual coalition of consumer advocates and business interests joined to delay and possibly defeat a controversial “restatement” of consumer contract law that critics said presents a misleading picture of how courts are actually deciding cases in the rapidly evolving area of “clickwrap” and “browsewrap” agreements. -
Latest project from American Law Institute 'an abandonment of important principles,' 23 state AGs feel
WASHINGTON – The attorneys general of 23 states, led by the State of New York, have sent a letter to the American Law Institute (ALI) opposing a proposed Restatement of Consumer Contract Law, set to be voted on at the ALI’s annual meeting this week. -
ALI sends in lobbyists as Texas lawmakers consider denouncing group's insurance Restatement
AUSTIN, Texas – New records show that the American Law Institute has hired lobby assistance to oppose legislation filed by Texas lawmakers to discourage the Restatement of the Law of Liability Insurance from being relied upon by courts. -
'This doesn't help': Law profs say influential group's take on Internet agreements is based on faulty analysis
PHILADELPHIA - One of the latest projects from a legal group that influences judges relies upon a faulty analysis of case law to support its conclusion that courts have developed new ways to interpret “clickwrap,” “browsewrap” and other standardized consumer agreements, some law professors say in a pair of recent articles. -
Legal observers say ALI's pending Copyright Law Restatement encroaches on federal decision-making territory
PHILADELPHIA – The American Law Institute’s pending Restatement of the Law, Copyright has some law scholars questioning its compilation, merits and intentions as to its given subject, while the ALI stands by the integrity of its Restatement-drafting process. -
Beware of even the fine print, attorneys warn of ALI's insurance law Restatement
Beware of even the fine print, attorneys warn of ALI's insurance law Restatement -
Another state rejects ALI's controversial insurance Restatement; North Dakota joins Ohio as other states mull similar moves
PHILADELPHIA – State opposition to the American Law Institute’s Restatement of the Law of Liability Insurance continues to accumulate, as North Dakota recently passed a law striking down the document and Arkansas introduced similar legislation in its state senate. -
Op-ed: American Law Institute preaches patience on insurance law Restatement
"We hope that the Texas legislature, when it reviews the final draft, will find the document similarly useful. Most of the Restatement of the Law of Liability Insurance is made up of statements of law or definitions that are uncontroversial and well established — across all jurisdictions." -
Texas lawmakers say the ALI's insurance law project 'not worthy of recognition by the courts'
AUSTIN, Texas – In response to the controversial passage of the American Law Institute’s Restatement of the Law of Liability Insurance last year, legislation has recently been filed by Texas lawmakers to discourage its being relied upon by courts. -
Attorney: If judges take ALI's controversial insurance project seriously, policyholders would suffer
PHILADELPHIA – Despite passage at last year’s annual meeting of the American Law Institute, multiple states and courts have since expressed opposition to the application of the ALI’s Restatement of the Law of Liability Insurance.