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The Slippery Slope of Litigating Geologic Hazards

California's Portuguese Bend Landslide

By David L. Ozsvath

The Slippery Slope of Litigating Geologic Hazards


 

Abstract

This case, based on a lawsuit brought against the County of Los Angeles by homeowners suing over damage to their homes in the wake of the Portuguese Bend Landslide, teaches students principles of landslide movement while illustrating the difficulties involved with litigation resulting from natural hazards. Students first read a fictitious newspaper article (based on the actual events), then receive details about the geologic setting and landslide characteristics. With this information, the students are then asked to evaluate the possible causes of the disaster. The case was developed for use in a non-majors’ introductory course in environmental geology. 

   

Date Posted

10/09/1999

Overview

Objectives

  • To utilize active, small-group learning within a science course.
  • To introduce the idea that “real world” problems can have more than one possible answer.
  • To teach some principles of landslide movement through use of an actual case history.
  • To illustrate the difficulties involved with litigation resulting from natural hazards.

Keywords

Landslide; natural disasters; hazard mitigation; Portuguese Bend; Long Beach; California; Palos Verdes Peninsula; West Coast; litigation

  

Subject Headings

Earth Science
Geology
Natural Hazards

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL

High school, Undergraduate lower division

  

FORMAT

PDF

   

TOPICAL AREAS

Legal issues

   

LANGUAGE

English

   

TYPE/METHODS

Discussion

 

 

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