Force CV 2019.pdf Robert Force
- Niels F. Johnsen Chair of Maritime Law
- Director Emeritus, Maritime Law Center
- rforce@tulane.edu
- Weinmann Hall, Room 255-G
- 504-865-5947
Education
- LL.M. New York University Law School, 1960 (Comparative Law), Ford Civil Law Fellowship
- Fulbright Scholar, 1958-59, University of Adelaide Law School
- LL.B. Temple University Law School, 1958
- B.S. Temple University, 1955 (with honors)
Biography
Robert Force is an internationally known authority on admiralty and criminal law who was a co-reporter for the Louisiana Code of Evidence and has written multiple articles and books on maritime law.
Force, now director emeritus of the Maritime Law Center at Tulane, was its founding director, and he holds the only endowed chair in maritime law in the United States. He taught at Temple and Indiana law schools before joining the Tulane Law faculty in 1969. He served as Tulane’s acting dean in 1977-78.
Earlier in his career, because of his criminal law expertise, he was named special master to the U.S. District Court for a major case involving Orleans Parish prison conditions. He has co-authored two landmark texts, The Law of Seamen and The Law of Maritime Personal Injuries, both now in their fifth edition. He also prepared a monograph on Admiralty and Maritime Law for federal judges at the invitation of the Federal Judicial Center. And his international work includes helping to write the maritime codes for Panama and China.
The Seamen’s Church Institute in 2001 named Force a maritime law legend. The President of Panama in 2002 designated him a member of the Order de Vasco Nunez de Balboa. And a book, Jurisdiction and Forum Selection Clauses in International Maritime Law, contains a series of essays honoring Force.
He received the Louisiana Bar Foundation’s 2014 Distinguished Professor Award.
Selected Publications
R. Force, Understanding the Nonremovability of Maritime Cases: Lessons Learned from “Original Intent”, 89 Tul. L. Rev. 1019-1057.
R. Force, The Regal-Beloit Decision: What, If Anything, Would Happen to the Legal Regime for Multimodal Transport in the United States If It Adopted the Rotterdam Rules, 36 Tul. Mar. L.J. 685-706 (2012). R. Force, The Position in the United States on Foreign Forum Selection and Arbitration Clauses, Forum Non Conveniens, and Antisuit Injunctions, published in part in 2011 Lloyd’s Maritime and Commercial Law Quarterly, 249-261 and published in full, 35 Tul. Mar. L.J. 401-464 (2011).
R. Force, M. Davies & J. Force, Deepwater Horizon: Removal Costs, Civil Damages, Crimes, Civil Penalties and State Remedies in Oil Spill Cases, 85 Tul. L. Rev. 889-982 (2011).
R. Force & M. Davies, U.S. Maritime Law, International Maritime and Commercial Law Yearbook, 195-210 (annual contribution 2015).
R. Force & M. Davies, U.S. Maritime Law, International Maritime and Commercial Law Yearbook, 202 (annual contribution 2013).
R. Force & M. Davies, U.S. Maritime Law, International Maritime and Commercial Law Yearbook, 180 (annual contribution from 2001).
R. Force, Recovery of Damages for Injury to the Environment Caused by Oil Pollution Under Both the U.S. Regime and International Conventions, 8 Benedict’s Maritime Bulletin 71 and 8 Benedict’s Maritime Bulletin 161 (2010).
R. Force, Settlements and the Right to Contributions after McDermott, Inc. v. Amclyde, 7 Benedict’s Maritime Bulletin 216-21 (2009).
R. Force, COGSA v. Carmack, 36 Transp. L.J. 1 (2009). This article is based on a paper I delivered at the 41st Annual Transportation Law Institute, November 14, 2008.
Shipment of Dangerous Cargo by Sea, 18 Singapore Academy of L.J. 541 (2006), reprinted in 31 Tul. Mar. L.J. 315 (Summer 2007).
The Legacy of Miles v. Apex Marine Corp., 30 Tul. Mar. L.J. 35-74 (2006).
U.S. Maritime Law Decisions 2005-2010, LLOYDS MAR. & COM. L.Q. 200-215 (2014) Int’l Mar. & Com. L. Y.B. 2014 (with Prof. M. Davies).
U.S. Maritime Law Decisions 2005-2010, LLOYDS MAR. & COM. L.Q. — (2013) Int’l Mar. & Com. L. Y.B. 2013 (with Prof. M. Davies).
U.S. Maritime Law Decisions 2005-2010, LLOYDS MAR. & COM. L.Q. 175 (2006) Int’l Mar. & Com. L. Y.B. 2006 (with Prof. M. Davies).
Choice of Law in Admiralty Cases: “National Interests” and the Admiralty Clause, 75 TUL. L. REV. 1421-1488 (2001).
Deconstructing Jensen: Admiralty and Federalism in the Twenty First Century, 32 J. MAR L. & COM. 517 – 565 ( 2001).
An Essay on Federal Common Law and Admiralty, 43 St. LOUIS U. L.J. 1367 (2000). Tort Reform by the Judiciary: Developments in the Law of Maritime Personal Injury and Death Damages, 23 TUL. MAR. L.J. 351-81 (1999).
Limitation of Liability in Oil Pollution Cases: In Search of Concursus or Procedural Alternatives to Concursus, with Jonathan Gutoff, 22 TUL. MAR. L.J. 331-416 (1998).
Post-Calhoun Remedies for Death and Injury in Maritime Cases: Uniformity, Whither Goest Thou?, 21 TUL. MAR. L.J. 7-51 (1996).
A Comparison of the Hague, Hague-Visby and Hamburg Rules from a U.S. Perspective: Much Ado About (?), 70 TUL. L. REV. 2051-89 (1996).
Liability for the Carriage of Deck Cargo Under U.S. Law, 3 INT’L. MAR. L., 14 (1996).
The Curse of Miles v. Apex Marine Corp.: The Mischief of Seeking “Uniformity” and “Legislative Intent” in Maritime Personal Injury Cases, 55 LA. LAW REV. 745-798 (1995).
Allocation of Risk and Standard of Care Under the Jones Act: “Slight Negligence,” “Slight Care”?, 25 J. MAR. L. & COM. 1 (1994).
Three short articles—“Proposed Coast Guard Regulations Dealing with Shipboard Emergency Oil Pollution Plans” (Implementation of MARPOL 73/78) 2 INT’L MAR. L. 27 (1994); Determining the “Number of Packages in Container Shipments” 1 INT’L MAR. L. 91 (1994); and “Rusting” Wood: “Neutralising” the Description of the Condition of Cargo, 1 INT’L MAR. L. 91 (1994).
The Structure of the American Legal System—A Brief Explanation for Non-United States Lawyers, 1992 LLOYD’S MAR. & COM. L.Q., 73.
Two Models of Maritime Dispute Resolution, 65 TUL. L. REV. 1461 (1991) (with A. Mavronicolas).
An Introduction to Maritime Personal Injury and Death Claims in the People’s Republic of China, 15 TUL. MAR. L.J. 245 (1991) (with Xia Chen).
Admiralty and Maritime Law: Recent Developments; 24 TORTS & INS. L.J. 169 (Winter 1990).
Determining Admiralty Tort Jurisdiction: An Alternative Analytical Framework, 21 J. MAR. LAW & COM. 1 (1990).
The Current State of Evidentiary Privileges in Louisiana, (with K. Triche) 49 LA. L. REV. 733 (1989).
The Louisiana Code of Evidence - A Retrospective and Prospective View (with G. Pugh, G. Rault, and K. Triche) 49 LA. L. REV. 689 (1989).
Louisiana Code of Evidence, Act. No. 515, 1988 (Co-Draftsman with G. Pugh and G. Rault).
Maritime Products Liability in the Untied States, 11 Mar. Law. 1 (1986); also published in 31 Trial Law. Guide 399 (1987), and the Meredith Memorial Lectures, 1987).
Comment: Trans World Airlines, Inc. v. Franklin Mint Corporation published in Il Diritto Maritimo, 387-420 (1985).
The Louisiana Administrative Procedure Act, 42 LA. L. REV. 1227-1229 (1982). The Politics of Prison Reform, Tulane Lawyer, published Spring 1980.
Legal Research and Writing—Course Materials, with C. Hancock and S. Watson (unpublished 1979).
Cases and Materials on Criminal Procedure (unpublished 1979).
The Inadequacy of Drinking-Driving Laws: A Lawyer’s View, paper delivered by invitation, Melbourne, Australia, 1977. Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety 438-453 (Australian Gov. Pub. Serv. 1979).
Police Accountability: Handling Complaints of Police Misconduct, with Carolyn Williams, Ph.D. (Institute for Government Studies, Loyola University, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1978).
Co-draftsman with Gallant and Chayet of a Statement of Principles of Ethical Conduct in Neuropsychopharmacologic Research in Human Subjects for the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (1978) Reported in previously cited work.
Fifth Circuit Symposium: Criminal Law and Procedure, 21 LOYOLA L. REV. 615 (1975).
Administrative Adjudication of Traffic Violations Confronts the Doctrine of Separation of Powers, 49 TUL. L. REV. 84 (1974).
Book Review, Police in Trouble, 47 TUL. L. REV. 241-250 (1972).
Decriminalization of Breach of the Peace Statutes: A Nonpenal Approach to Order Maintenance, 46 TUL. L. REV., 367-493, February 1972.
State “Bill of Rights:” A Case of Neglect and the Need for a Renaissance, 3 VAL.L.REV. 125-182 (1969).
Civil Disobedience: A conglomerate Review, 21 AD.L.REV. 27 (1968).
Legal Problems of Abortion Law Reform 19 AD.L.REV. 364-428.
Legal Problems of Abortion Law Reform, 19 AD.L.REV. 426-428.
Legal Problems in Civil Commitment, Workshop for Social Workers in State institutions— “The Basis of Admission.”
Insanity Procedures Under Federal Law, Temple University Unit in Law and Psychiatry Research Series (1965). I wrote the section in the final report on “Fitness to Proceed Under Federal Law,” pages 20-120.
Mens Rea v. Strict Liability, Res Gestae, Indiana State Bar Association Journal (August 1965).
Criminal Law and Procedure, Annual Survey of New York Law, 1960, 35 N.Y.U.L. REV. 1431.
Disorderly Conduct Ordinances--Preventive and Palliative, Report on Urban Violence Problems 47 (NIMLO Seminar 1970).
A Study of the Louisiana Court System, Chapter 5-B, Criminal Case Processing 87-148 (the Institute of Judicial Administration, March 1972).
Books
R. Force, A Comparison of the Recovery of Compensation for Injury to Natural Resources under the 92 CLC and Fund Conventions with the U.S. Oil Pollution Act of 1990, Chapter 15 in Marine Pollution Liability and Policy, 2010 (M. Faure, L. Han & H. Shan, eds. Wolters Kluwer).
R. Force, Regulation of Shipping: Statutes, Regulations and Cases, 2007.
R. Force, Marine Pollution Liabilities Under U.S. Law published as Chapter 3 in Liability Regimes in Contemporary Maritime Law (D. Rhidian Thomas, ed., 2007) (Informa)
R. Force and M. Davies, Forum Selection Clauses in International Maritime Contracts, Chapter 1 in Jurisdiction and Forum Selection in International Maritime Law: Essays in Honor of Robert Force, 2005 (M. Davies, ed. Kluwer Law Int’l).
R. Force, Admiralty and Maritime Law, 2nd edition, monograph published by the Federal Judicial Center, 2013. Translated into Russian.
R. Force, Admiralty and Maritime Law, monograph published by the Federal Judicial Center 2004. Translated into Japanese and published in 2009.
Marine Pollution: Statutes, International Conventions, Cases and Text, 2003 (updated annually).
R. Force & M. Norris*, The Law of Maritime Personal Injuries (2 volumes) (5th ed. 2004) (Thomson-West). * The late Judge Norris is deceased and this edition was prepared solely by R. Force. Annual supplements published 2005-2013.
R. Force & M. Norris*, The Law of Seamen (3 volumes) (5th ed. 2003) (Thomson-West). * The late Judge Norris is deceased and this edition was prepared solely by R. Force. Annual supplements published 2004-2013.
R. Force & M. Norris, The Law of Maritime Personal Injuries, revised Chapter 8 (5th ed. 2013).
R. Force & M. Norris, The Law of Maritime Personal Injuries, revised Chapter 9 (5th ed. 2011).
R. Force & M. Norris, The Law of Maritime Personal Injuries, revised Chapter 1 (5th ed. 2010).
R. Force & M. Norris, The Law of Maritime Personal Injuries, revised Chapter 4 (5th ed. 2009).
R. Force & M. Norris, The Law of Maritime Personal Injuries, revised Chapter 8 (5th ed. 2008).
R. Force & M. Norris, The Law of Seamen, revised Chapter 1 (5th ed. 2011).
R. Force & M. Norris, The Law of Seamen, revised Chapter 2 (5th ed. 2010). - 3 - 12/7/2012
R. Force & M. Norris, The Law of Seamen, revised Chapter 30 (5th ed. 2009).
Supplement for Force & Norris, The Law of Seamen (3 volumes) (5th ed.), Supplements 2008-2009, 2009-2010, & 2011.
Force & Norris, The Law of Maritime Personal Injuries (2 volumes) (5th ed.), Supplements 2008-2009, 2009-2010, & 2011.
2002 Supplement for Norris, The Law of Maritime Personal Injuries (4th ed.).
Supplement for Norris, The Law of Seamen (4th ed.).
R. Force, United States Transport Law, International Encyclopaedia of Laws (2001) Kluwer International.
Force, A. N. Yiannopoulos & M. Davies, Admiralty and Maritime Law: Cases, Notes and Text, Volumes 1 and 2, 2007-2008 (Beard Books) (updated annually).
Robert Force, A. N. Yiannopoulos & M. Davies, Admiralty and Maritime Law: Cases, Notes and Text (one volume edition), 2005 (Beard Books) (updated annually).
Handbook on Louisiana Evidence Law, (with G. Rault) (Thomson-West 2013).
Handbook on Louisiana Evidence Law, (with G. Pugh, G. Rault, and K. Triche) (ThomsonWest 2011).
Robert Force, Overlapping Insurance Coverages, pp 223-61 in Marine Insurance at the turn of the Millennium, Volume 1 (Marc Huybrechts, Editor, 1999).
Robert Force, A Comparison of the U.S. Carriage of Goods by Sea Act - Present Text and Proposed Changes - and the Hamburg Rules, pp. 371-420 in New Carriage of Goods by Sea: The Nordic Approach Including Comparisons with Some Other Jurisdictions (Hannu Honka, Editor, 1997).
Robert Force, U.S. Tort Law Problems, Chapter 8 in U.S. Shipping Policies and the World Market (W. A. Lovett, Editor, 1996).
Hall’s Criminal Law: Cases and Materials (with J. Baker, D. Benson and B. J George, 5th Ed. 1993 The Michie Company).
Legal and Ethical Issues in Human Research and Treatment: Psychopharmacologic Considerations. Co-edited with D. Gallant, M.D. (S.P. 1978).
Ethical and Regulatory Issues in Psychopharmacologic Research and Treatment, with D. Gallant. Psychopharmacology: A Generation in Progress 1-6 (Raven Press 1978) (Republication).