Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law Professor Denis Binder’s article “The Increasing Application of Criminal Law in Disasters and Tragedies: A Global Phenomenon” was recently published in Volume 38, Number 313 of the Western New England Law Review.

From the abstract:

article coverProsecutors have become aggressive in recent years in bringing criminal prosecutions of those they believe responsible either in creating or aggravating disasters and tragedies. Even large natural disasters usually contain elements of human error. The defendants include corporations, corporate officers, employees, government officials, such as regulators. These occur in both civil law and common law jurisdictions on a variety of theories.

Read the full article.

Professor Binder’s career teaching Antitrust, Environmental Law, Torts and Toxic Torts at law schools nationwide spans more than 40 years. He has served as a consultant to a variety of organizations, ranging from the Army Corps of Engineers to Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers. In September 1996, Professor Binder received the National Award of Merit from the Association of State Dam Safety Officials for his contributions to promoting dam safety over the preceding two decades. He graduated first in his class at the University of San Francisco School of Law and received his LL.M. and S.J.D. degrees from the University of Michigan Law School. Professor Binder served as the President of the Chapman University Faculty Senate during the 2006-2007 academic year and as chair of the Environmental Law Section of the Association of American Law Schools for 2011-2012 academic year. Other recent articles include “Can We Secure the Hallowed Halls of Academe?Regent University Law Review (2016); “An Outsider’s Perspective on Istanbul’s Emergency Planning,” Bahcesehir Law Review (2014); and “Looking Back to the Future: The Curmudgeon’s Guide to the Future of Environmental Law,” Akron Law Review (2013).

See more of Professor Binder’s writings.