John Diamond

Bio

Professor Diamond was raised in Chappaqua, New York and attended Yale College (B.A., Magna Cum Laude, Departmental Honors with Exceptional Distinction in Social Science 1972); Cambridge University (Diploma in Criminology 1973); and Columbia Law School (JD, Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar 1976). Before joining the UC Law SF faculty, Professor Diamond was associated with the law firm of Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York, where he practiced in the litigation department. He previously served as law clerk to Judge Thomas P. Griesa of the United States District Court in New York.

Professor Diamond teaches and writes on torts, criminal and mass media law, and is author of a torts casebook, coauthor of a criminal law casebook and torts treatise. He is a recipient of the Northern California Association of Phi Beta Kappa Excellence in Teaching Award, the Rutter Outstanding Teaching Award, UC Law SF Associated Students and UC Law SF Alumni office Teaching Awards, and has had the honor to be elected by the graduating class to give the faculty commencement address on ten occasions.

Scholarship

Books

Torts: Cases and Materials (West Academic Publishing 4th ed. 2024) ( with Dorit R. Reiss).

Understanding Torts (Carolina Academic Press 7th ed. 2023) (with Lawrence C. Levine & Anita Bernstein).

Understanding Torts (Carolina Academic Press 6th ed. 2018) (with Lawrence C. Levine & Anita Bernstein).

Criminal Law: Cases and Materials (Carolina Academic Press 4th ed. 2017) (with Steven Saltzburg, Kit Kinports, Thomas Morawetz, & Rory Little) (with Teacher’s Manual).

Cases and Materials on Torts (West Academic Publishing 3rd ed. 2016).

Understanding Torts (LexisNexis 5th ed. 2013) (with Lawrence C. Levine & Anita Bernstein).

Understanding Torts (LexisNexis 4th ed. 2010) (with Lawrence C. Levine & Anita Bernstein).

Cases and Materials on Torts (West Group 2d ed. 2008). AMAZON

Criminal Law: Cases and Materials (Lexis Pub. 3d ed. 2008 & Supps. 2011-2015) (with Steven Saltzburg, Kit Kinports, Thomas Morawetz, & Rory Little) (with Teacher’s Manual).

Understanding Torts (Lexis Pub. 3d ed. 2007) (with Lawrence C. Levine & M. Stuart Madden).

Cases and Materials on Torts (West Group 2001) (with Teacher’s Manual).

Criminal Law: Cases and Materials (Lexis Pub. 2d ed. 2000 & Supps. 2006–2007) (with Steven Saltzburg, Kit Kinports, & Thomas Morawetz) (with Teacher’s Manual).

Understanding Torts (Lexis Pub. 2d ed. 2000) (with Lawrence C. Levine & M. Stuart Madden) excerpted in Understanding Law School: An Introduction to the LexisNexis Understanding Series and Tips on How to Succeed in Law School 59 (LexisNexis 2004).

Understanding Torts (Matthew Bender 1996) (with Lawrence C. Levine & M. Stuart Madden).

Criminal Law: Cases and Materials (Michie 1994 & Supp. 1997) (with Steven Saltzburg, Kit Kinports, & Thomas Morawetz) (with Teacher’s Manual).

Journal Articles

Measles and Misrepresentation in Minnesota: Can there be Liability for Anti Vaccine Misinformation that Causes Bodily Harm?, 56 San Diego L. Rev. 531 (2019) (with Dorit Rubinstein Reiss). FULLTEXT SSRN

Crisis in American Criminal Law – Reflections from a Comparative Perspective, 65 ArsAequi 254 (2016).

Reviving Lenity and Honest Belief at the Boundaries of Criminal Law, 44 U. Mich. J.L. Reform 1 (2010). FULLTEXT

Rethinking Compensation for Mental Distress: A Critique of the Restatement (Third) §§ 45-47, 16 Va. J. Soc. Pol’y & L. 141 (2008). FULLTEXT

An Ideological Approach to Excuse in Criminal Law, 25 New Eng. J. on Crim. & Civ. Confinement 1 (1999). FULLTEXT

The Crisis in the Ideology of Crime, 31 Ind. L. Rev. 291 (1998). FULLTEXT

Rethinking Media Liability for Defamation of Public Figures, 5 Cornell J.L. & Pub. Pol’y 289 (1996). FULLTEXT

The Myth of Morality and Fault in Criminal Law Doctrine, 34 Am. Crim. L. Rev. 111 (1996). FULLTEXT

Assumption of Risk After Comparative Negligence: Integrating Contract Theory into Tort Doctrine, 52 Ohio St. L.J. 717 (1991) (reprinted in edited form in A Torts Anthology 366 (Julie A. Davies, Lawrence C. Levine & Edward J. Kionka eds., Anderson Pub. Co. 1999)). FULLTEXT

Rediscovering Traditional Tort Typologies to Determine Media Liability for Physical Injuries: From the Mickey Mouse Club to Hustler Magazine, 10 Hastings Comm. & Ent. L.J. 969 (1988) (with James L. Primm). FULLTEXT

Philadelphia Newspapers v. Hepps: Unanswered Defamation Questions, 10 Hastings Comm. & Ent. L.J. 125 (1987). FULLTEXT

Kidnapping: A Modern Definition, 13 Am. J. Crim. L. 1 (1985). FULLTEXT

Dillon v. Legg Revisited: Toward a Unified Theory of Compensating Bystanders and Relatives for Intangible Injuries, 35 Hastings L.J. 477 (1984). FULLTEXT

Eliminating the “Defect” in Design Strict Products Liability Theory, 34 Hastings L.J. 529 (1983). FULLTEXT

Chapters In Books

Burglary, in The Oxford Companion to American Law 74 (Kermit L. Hall ed., Oxford Univ. Press 2002). CATALOG

Larceny, in The Oxford Companion to American Law 485 (Kermit L. Hall ed., Oxford Univ. Press 2002). CATALOG

Trespass, in The Oxford Companion to American Law 811 (Kermit L. Hall ed., Oxford Univ. Press 2002). CATALOG

Book Reviews

Book Review, 67 A.B.A. J. 194 (1981) (reviewing James J. Magee, Mr. Justice Black: Absolutist on the Court (1980)). HEIN

Other Publications

LexisNexis Capsule Summary: Torts (2004) (with Lawrence Levine & M. Stuart Madden). URL

Education

• Columbia Law School
  J.D., Harlan Fiske Scholar, Law 1976

• Emmanuel College, Cambridge University
  Diploma, Criminology 1973

• Yale College
  B.A., Magna cum Laude and Departmental Honors with Exceptional Distinction, Social Science 1972

Accomplishments

• Elected Faculty Commencement Speaker
  Elected by the UC Law SF graduating class in 2013, 2010, 2009, 2005, 2004, 2001, 2000, 1988, 1987, and 1985. 2013

• Outstanding Professor Award
  Awarded by the Hastings student government in 2011, 2010, 2008, 2004 and 1990. 2011

• Rutter Outstanding Teaching Award
  Awarded by UC Law SF College of the Law. 2001

• Excellence in Teaching Award
  Awarded by the Northern California Association of Phi Beta Kappa. 2001

• Outstanding Professor Award
  Presented by the Alumni Office of UC Law SF College of the Law. 1993

• Associate Academic Dean of UC Law SF College of the Law
  Served from 1987 to 1989. 1989

Selected Scholarship