Citation

Koenig TH, Rustad ML. Am. Behav. Sci. 2007; 51(2): 302-318.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0002764207306061

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article coins the term hate torts to illustrate the growing role of tort law in defending vulnerable Americans against violence and intimidation by hate groups and hateful individuals. Hate torts give juries the muscle to impose a financial death penalty against organizations that recklessly and intentionally enable racial and gender oppression. In the absence of effective criminal sanctions, tort victims and their lawyers can play the role of private attorneys general by filing civil lawsuits that expose and financially punish organizations that incite the commission of hate crimes.