You are invited to participate in a study about civil litigation.  This study is being conducted by the University of Denver’s Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS).  IAALS is a national, non-partisan organization dedicated to improving the process and culture of the civil justice system.  This study will give voice to the thoughts and ideas of the Oregon bar concerning the Oregon's rules of civil procedure.  Participants can have a significant impact, as the results will be distributed throughout the United States.  This is your chance to have your views considered.

Participation involves responding to survey questions about Oregon Circuit Court civil rules and procedures, and should take about 15 minutes of your time.  Questions that do not apply to you, based on your previous answers, will not appear.  IAALS is partnering with the Butler Institute for Families on this survey.  The Butler Institute is conducting this survey on our behalf to help ensure the confidentiality of your responses.  Your responses will be identified by code number only and will be kept separate from any information that could identify you.  Only Butler Institute researchers will have access to your individual data.  Reports generated as a result of this study will be presented in summary form only, i.e., group averages.  Absolutely no individually identifying information will be reported with the findings. 

The Office of University Counsel requires inclusion of the following language:

The risks associated with this study are negligible.  Participation is strictly voluntary.  You may choose not to answer the survey questions, either in whole or in part.  You may discontinue the survey at any time, for any reason.  Your decision about the extent of your participation will involve no penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.  However, should any information contained in this study be the subject of a court order or lawful subpoena, the University of Denver might not be able to avoid compliance with the order or subpoena.  Although no questions in this survey address the issue, we are required by law to tell you that if information is revealed concerning suicide, homicide, or child abuse and neglect, we are legally obligated to report the information to proper authorities.  If you have any concerns or complaints about how you were treated during this study, please contact Susan Sadler, Chair of the Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects, at 303-871-3454, or Sylk Sotto-Santiago, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, at 303-871-4052.  You may also write to the University of Denver, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, 2199 S. University Blvd., Denver, CO 80208-2121.

You may print this page for your records.  Please click yes below if you understand and agree to the above.  If you do not understand any part of the above statement, please contact Butler Institute researcher Sheridan Green at 303-871-3895 or sheridan.green@du.edu.