有害物质潜在损害的法律救济及其解决进路——以美国法为例

How to Solve a Dilemma of Civil Remedies to Latent Harms in Toxic Tort——Focusing on American Tort Law

从20世纪80年代中期开始,有害物质侵权诉讼逐渐得到美国法学界和实务界的关注。根据传统侵权法理论,原告受到物理性侵害(有形性侵害)或身体受到实际伤害是请求损害赔偿的前提。有害物质潜在受害者因尚未表现出疾病症状,其索赔面临着法律上的难题。然而,有害物质暴露(例如环境污染)所引发的健康损害通常具有潜在性和延迟性,其结果一旦发生即不可逆转,受害者待到疾病到来时的索赔往往缺乏实际价值。因此,帮助潜在受害者寻求法律救济的"非传统型侵权法理"应运而生。为回应社会现实需要,美国法院也逐渐允许有害物质的潜在受害者在疾病发生之前提起侵权诉讼,并在一定条件下为其提供法律救济。

Since 1980’s,toxic tort claims begins to attract the attention of American jurists.According to theory of traditional tort law,plaintiff should prove physical injury suffering when he or she brings a lawsuit.However,with the development of society,people gradually recognize that exposure of toxic substance occurs frequently and the serious problems caused by latent harm could not be ignored anymore.As a challenge to traditional tort law,how to give remedies to potential victims becomes more important in modern society.In recent years,with the development of common law,responding to change in society,American courts give permit to people who yet have not endure physical injury to bring suits.Potential victims often bring claims based on such as fear of future injuries or increased risk of disease or medical monitoring.