Whose Monet?: An Introduction to the American Legal System

by John Humbach

This extraordinary paperback provides a highly accessible and appealing orientation to the American legal system and presents basic concepts of civil litigation to first-year law students. Whose Monet? An Introduction to the American Legal System focuses on a lengthy dispute over the ownership of a painting as a vehicle for introducing students to the basic law school tasks of reading analytically, understanding legal materials, and working with the common law.

The author and his colleagues have used these materials successfully in their classrooms for many years, ensuring their teachability and

Whose Monet? can be used as primary course material in orientation courses or seminars, as well as collateral reading for in-semester Legal Process or Civil Procedure courses The organization is logical and straightforward and the accessible writing style--lucid, descriptive, and conversational--is ideal for incoming students The major events in a lawsuit are considered, and the text sheds light on how the law is applied in a civil dispute, introducing common law and statutory law and the various courts and their interrelationship (trial/appellate, state/federal) The author draws on judicial opinions, litigation papers, transcripts, and selections from commentators and various jurisprudential sources, thereby exposing the first-year student to as broad a spectrum of materials as possible Telling the story of a real lawsuit (DeWeerth v. Baldinger)--from client intake through trial and various appeals--draws students into the legal process by means of an engaging narrative and makes for a truly enjoying teaching experience for professors The lawyer's role is examined in both its functional and moral What do lawyers do? What does society legitimately expect lawyers to do? This book is suitable for both classroom and stand-alone assigned reading

Genres: Law, Nonfiction

255 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 13, 2007

Reviews

[Meredith Holley · Rating 2 out of 5]

In case a librarian happens by, this book is 232 pages, not 256. Weird.

I have to say I'm not a fan. I could write you a lengthy review full of all caps and question mark/exclamation point combos, but I'll spare you. This book seemed more like a summary of what the author knows about civil procedure than a teaching tool. By that, I mean that it seemed accurate for the most part (with a few odd exceptions), but not exceptionally clear or helpful.

Frankly, I'm mystified as to why an author would choose this case as an illustration of civil procedure. Old, rich ladies squabbling over a really expensive painting lacks a certain human interest side that I would look for in something designed to inspire law study. Like, sure, the theft took place during one of the most devastating genocides in all of human history, but let's talk about some super rich people having a cat fight. This book is like reading Romeo & Juliet without any irony or youth-and-stupidity-excuse for the excess and shallowness. Then, throw in a strangely long explanation of common law and sideways references to Erie that don't really explain the doctrine or its importance.

[Sophia Jaffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book of law school! Interesting enough with the amount of content it has to cover

[Santiago Valenzuela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lowkey fire

[Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A respectful, balanced, thoughtful, thought-provoking introduction to our legal system and its strengths and deficiencies. Excellent questions at the end of each chapter help apply the lessons learned. Really helped me see attorneys as skilled professionals, and disagreements about the law as often honest—not always political.

[Pat M · Rating 4 out of 5]

For an academic book, the narrative is very well done and it helps in following the judicial process based on a pretty interesting case (I am gaslighting myself)

[Sarah Cohen]

Catch me slaying orientation

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my 1L summer reading homework. It’s essentially an intro to the US legal system textbook— giving it 4 stars because it made its content material interesting and digestible, relatively speaking.

[Tristin Rice · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an introduction to the legal system (as the name suggests), it is a good book on an interesting case. It does it job of walking readers through the steps of how a case like to goes to and proceeds through trial. The procedure is definitely the focus, so if you're looking for a book that delves deep into the details of this or any case, this is not the book for you. If you want a book that outlines what the process of going through a case is like and asks open ended questions to make YOU think through the case, then I would definitely recommend.

[Edward · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used this book while teaching an undergraduate course on The American Legal System and Profession. The case follows litigation seeking the return of a Monet apparently stolen at the end of WWII. The students really seemed to enjoy the book, and it provides a good overview of many aspects of American law.

[Graham Streich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, a very clear introduction to a lot of legal processes in the USA, however, I found some of the abridgments/changes to the case for narrative/demonstrative purposes were hard to understand and confused the underlying principle/process being explained.

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually a very engaging way to introduce Civil Procedure, but since it was "recommended" and not "required" reading, it took me a lot longer to get through it. Still glad I took the time and finished.

[Jodi Lu · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did my first homework in 20 years! Homework is, still, boring.

[Peter S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Required reading pre law school. Learned a lot!

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would still highly recommend this book to 0L summer (prior to 1L orientation) even though I couldn't finish it before graduating from law school...

[Zehra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Required review


System requires a review to read the rest of the book. Really really don't care for this feature of online purchases

[Seamus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a lawyer now.

[astri ☆]

(read for uni)

[Aleksander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great intro the legal system - teaching a little about everything and getting your feet wet without going to indepth

[Dan Barto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging, great introduction to American/NY legal system through the lens of a case

[Macken Keefe · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5. A fine introduction to basic legal process and principles, which largely affirmed what I already knew (granted, I was born and raised in the American legal system).

[Henry Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid introduction into the world of American law. The quick switches between legal theory and court opinions got a little confusing at times.

[rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was fine.

[Rylie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting case and easy to read!

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to read this book for law school but thought I'd review it anyway because it's a story as well as a text book.

It's geared to a first-year law school student ... So if you're interested in how civil actions progress and want to go a little deeper than, say, "A Civil Action", then this book may be for you. But be aware that sprinkled throughout the book are review/study questions like "Does a federal court have judicial power over all automobile collision cases? All lawsuits for broken contracts? All criminal cases?" (the answer, by the way is "no" to all of those). Sometimes the book provides the answer, sometimes not.

It is an interesting story -- in WWII, a woman's Monet painting went missing after American soldiers stayed at a relative's house where she was keeping the painting for safe keeping. The painting resurfaced decadesl later and this is the story of the original owner's attempts to get the painting back from its new owner. So if you can get past some of the more academic aspects of the book, it is a good look at the judicial process, how it works ... and maybe how it doesn't. It also raises questions regarding ownership, fairness and equity.

My one problem with the book is that the book's author completely makes up a jury trial in order to to examine a jury's role in a case like this. The original case was NOT decided by a jury. I think if you want to do an academic study of a case that goes to jury trial, then perhaps you should write about a case that actually goes to a jury trial. I know most cases are settled before a jury hears even opening arguments, but there must be at least one other interesting case that could serve as an illustration for these concepts.

[Earl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was required for my Advanced Prep Workshop for law school. It gave a decent walkthrough of the different levels a case can go through in the Federal court system. The book focused on the case of a Monet painting that went missing in Germany in 1945 after an occupation of American soldiers in a family castle. The painting turned up in New York in the 1980's and once located the true German owner lodged a complaint for it's return. The complaint was refused and the case went to trial and through several rounds of appeals.

This had more information than story line, but I do feel I have a better handle of the federal court system after reading it.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for my law classes. It's not like, fun, or anything, but it was interesting and helped me not be worried about the upcoming semester. Also, I found out that there's a basketball court on top of the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., and a lot of the clerks play up there. They call it the highest court in the land (!!!!!). I think that's the funniest bad joke in the world.

[Dominique Sade · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually enjoyed reading this book. As a first year legal student, it helped clarify some of the legal process and civil procedure questions I had. It uses an actual case to help readers under the process in our legal system.

[T. Wicked · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good look at the legal process in the federal courts in a narrative form. A good break from the boring case reads that you'd normally read to learn this process.

[amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned that I am in for some shit.

[Rory]

WHOO BOY! NON STOP EXCITEMENT!