Title

Why do Plaintiffs Lose Appeals? Biased Trial Courts, Litigious Losers, or Low Trial Win Rates?

Author(s)

Theodore Eisenberg Theodore Eisenberg (Cornell University)

Henry S. Farber Henry Farber (Princeton University)

Abstract

Multiple studies find that plaintiffs who lose at trial and subsequently appeal are less successful on appeal than are losing defendants who appeal. The studies attribute this to a perception by appellate judges that trial courts are biased in favor of plaintiffs. However, at least two alternative explanations exist. First, losing plaintiffs may appeal at higher rates independent of the potential merits. Second, if plaintiffs tend to pursue to trial lawsuits where they should win on the merits less than half the time, then errors at trial will be more likely to adversely affect defendants. This study revisits the analysis of the appellate process with a theoretical model that has implications not only for appellate outcomes but for the rate of appeal. By tying together win rates at trial, appeals rates, and success rates on appeal, the model can distinguish the competing explanations for differential appellate success rates. We estimate this model using matched data on Federal District Court trials and appeals to the U. S. Circuit Courts of Appeal. We provide evidence that the lower plaintiffs success rate on appeal is due to plaintiffs' pursuing lawsuits where they should win on the merits (which we define to be an outcome that will not be reversed or remanded on appeal) less than half the time. We also provide evidence against explaining asymmetric success on appeal being attributable to trial courts favoring plaintiffs and evidence against juries being favorable to plaintiffs compared to judges.

Creation Date

2011-07

Section URL ID

IRS

Paper Number

567

URL

https://dataspace.princeton.edu/bitstream/88435/dsp012v23vt39h/1/567.pdf

File Function

Jel

D020, D630, K400, K190, K410

Keyword(s)

Plaintiffs; Lose Appeals; Litigious Losers; Trial Win Rates; Biased Trial Courts; Federal District Court Trials

Suppress

false

Series

1