Many courts have lax standards for expert evidence and judges who abandon their role as gatekeepers, resulting in an abundance of “junk science” presented to jurors.
The Problem
Junk science is especially common in mass tort litigation regarding glyphosate-based weed killer (Roundup) and talcum baby powder.
Juries and judges should have access to the most complete and accurate evidence during trials and be presented with scientifically and factually accurate information to allow them to make well-informed decisions.
What Can Be Done
Implementing Federal Rule of Evidence 702 (amended in December 2023) requires that theories presented in court must be based on sound scientific method.
The Rule 702 standard is utilized in the federal court system and by a majority of states.
Judges must follow applicable laws regarding evidentiary standards and embrace their roles as gatekeepers to prevent junk science from permeating their courtrooms.
News on Junk Science
Search through all of ATRA's resources around junk science
‘Junk Science Playbook’ Report Ties RFK Jr.’s HHS Agenda to Mass Tort Machine
Judicial Hellholes® Blog Post: Delaware On Verge of Becoming Litigation Hotbed, Supreme Court Has Opportunity to Step In to Avoid This in Zantac Litigation
Show Me The Money: Hollywood Celebrity Revealed To Be Funding Baseless Climate Lawsuits
August 16, 2022
According to a new investigative report published by Fox News, emails appear to show that actor Leonardo DiCaprio’s non-profit […]
The American Tort Reform Association is the nation’s first organization dedicated exclusively to reforming the civil justice system through education and legislative enactment.
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