In 1994, Robert A. Clifford (JD ’76) endowed a faculty chair in tort law and social policy at DePaul University College of Law. A nationally respected trial attorney, Clifford created the chair to give meaningful expression to his belief that the civil justice system plays a vital role in protecting individual rights and advancing the public good. The Clifford Chair in Tort Law and Social Policy supports rigorous academic exploration of the civil justice system and promotes dialogue between scholars, judges and practitioners.
A key initiative supported by the endowment is the annual Clifford Symposium, which addresses timely and pressing issues in tort law, civil justice and related fields and brings together the nation’s leading legal minds to present groundbreaking research and foster critical discussion that informs both scholarship and practice.
ACADEMIC AND JUDICIAL IMPACT*
The Clifford Symposium has had a significant influence on both legal scholarship and the practicing bar.
SCHOLARLY IMPACT
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27 DePaul Law Review symposium volumes published
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395 articles authored by top scholars and practitioners
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12,132 Google Scholar citations
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1,832 citations in Top 50 law reviews
INFLUENCE ON THE JUDICIARY AND THE PRACTICING BAR
The impact of the symposium extends beyond academia—its scholarship is actively shaping judicial opinions across the country.
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40 state court cases across 19 states
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36 federal district court decisions
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9 federal court decisions in five circuits
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1 U.S. Supreme Court decision
Notable examples of courts citing Clifford Symposium articles include:
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Sosa v. Alvarez-Machain, 542 U.S. 692 (2004), which drew on symposium perspectives to affirm that tort law can evolve to address international wrongs, contributing to modern efforts to expand civil accountability globally.
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Colacicco v. Apotex Inc., 521 F.3d 253 (3d Cir. 2008), which relied on symposium scholarship addressing preemption, reinforcing the importance of preserving tort remedies in federally regulated areas—a major tort reform priority.
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State v. Lead Industries Ass'n, Inc., 951 A.2d 428 (R.I. 2008), which cited symposium research supporting innovative fee structures in public enforcement, illustrating how contingency arrangements advance state-led tort reform in public health crises.
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In re Zyprexa Products Liability Litigation, 424 F. Supp. 2d 488 (E.D.N.Y. 2006), which applied symposium insights into judicial oversight of mass tort settlements, reinforcing calls for reforms that ensure fair distribution and ethical attorney conduct.
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Lockheed Litigation Cases, 23 Cal. Rptr. 3d 762 (Cal. Ct. App. 2005), which cited symposium scholarship on evidentiary standards, advocating reform of expert admissibility rules in toxic torts to better reflect scientific complexity.
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In re Pet Food Products Liability Litigation, 629 F.3d 333 (3d Cir. 2010), which built on symposium analysis urging reform of legal representation models in mass torts to enhance transparency and equitable client outcomes.
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In re Abrams & Abrams, P.A., 605 F.3d 238 (4th Cir. 2010), which endorsed symposium arguments that contingency fees are critical to reforming civil justice by ensuring access for underserved plaintiffs.
LASTING IMPACT
Thanks to the continued support of Bob Clifford and the vision of DePaul Law, the Clifford Symposium has become a driving force in shaping the future of tort law. More than a scholarly forum, it serves as a strategic platform for advancing reform—bringing together leaders who influence how tort law evolves in theory and in practice.
As courts, policymakers and practitioners grapple with complex civil justice issues, the Clifford Symposium positions DePaul Law at the center of national efforts to build a more equitable and responsive tort system.
*As of June 2025