Set everything aside if you start reading this.

In other words, it's best read on a long plane ride over the Pacific Ocean, when you can't be distracted. This book was truly intriguing and interesting.

It offers a fascinating look at a situation that initially seems so black and white, yet the legalese manages to make it extremely gray.

The obvious cause of all the deaths and diseases in the town of Woburn was the dumping of chemicals into the soil. So, one has to wonder why it was so difficult for the idiotic judge and jury to not see that?!?!?

This book completely caught my attention and left me feeling frustrated with our legal system. It is absolutely captivating, drawing the reader in and making them question the fairness and efficiency of the legal processes. The detailed account of the events and the complex legal issues involved make it a must-read for anyone interested in law, social justice, or simply a good mystery.

I read this as a 1L in law school.

After ten years as a practicing attorney, I still haven't come across a better detailed description of what most civil litigators actually do on a daily basis.

Harr brings the reader right into the thick of the action. A whopping 95% of it doesn't take place in the courtroom. Instead, it involves preliminary negotiations through client development, motion practice, retaining and vetting experts, posturing, and settlement.

This account is equally proficient in presenting the financial aspects of litigation and the human costs related to the legal maneuvers.

It provides a comprehensive and realistic view of the world of civil litigation, highlighting both the practicalities and the implications.

Whether you're a law student eager to understand the profession or a seasoned attorney looking for a fresh perspective, this book is a must-read.

It offers valuable insights into the day-to-day operations and challenges faced by civil litigators.

Overall, it's an excellent resource that enriches our understanding of this complex and important area of the law.

When I embarked on reading this book, it dawned on me that I must have watched the movie related to it. However, all that remained were mere impressions rather than a vivid recall of the movie itself. My husband jogged my memory by mentioning that John Travolta had starred in the movie. Strangely, I had no recollection of this and it seemed like a rather odd casting choice to me. But my husband insisted that he was excellent in the role.

So here I am, delving into this book, more like slogging through it. I didn't find it the least bit entertaining; instead, it was remarkably painful. As I reached the end of Jan Schlichtmann's summary statement in the cases against the Beatrice and Grace corporations, I happened to be listening to Willie Nelson crooning "You Ought to Hear Me Cry". How fitting it was. I could feel every loss and every misstep that Jan Schlichtmann made and endured. He did make some significant mistakes, but he was up against corporations that had the means to lie, bluff, and pour in far more money than Jan and his firm could afford for a protracted legal battle. The judge, too, came across as quite a character, far from being impartial. The corporations stubbornly refused to admit guilt, even after the EPA had verified the contamination and identified its sources (the very corporations that Jan had brought to court on behalf of the Woburn families) and designated this area for superfund clean up. Even after paying up following the EPA investigation, they still wouldn't admit guilt. The families, despite having lawyers by their side, were powerless and never received justice for their children. In the most crucial aspect, the admission of guilt by the polluting companies, the families lost. Jan Schlichtmann managed to survive nine long years of attempting to prosecute these companies, albeit barely. But it seems he is now in good shape; happily married with children, practicing law, and his finances in a healthy state. What about the families? Many are still sick or have passed away and remain lower middle class. At least that was the situation as of 1996.

Read the Goodreads summary above; it is a succinct description of this book.

It's a true story that unfolds in a toxic town where children are dying. There is a long and exhausting legal battle taking place. The attorney involved is determined, albeit not initially eager, and is an intense eccentric with a penchant for putting on a "show." Meanwhile, there are two sources that deny any responsibility for causing the contamination. And then there is a self-serving and spiteful Judge. All of these elements come together to create a framework for a very interesting, frustrating, and thought-provoking read.

I must admit that I could hardly put this book down. It was almost like watching an unbelievable soap-opera. The story is so engaging that it keeps you on the edge of your seat, wondering what will happen next. The characters are well-developed and complex, making them both relatable and infuriating at times. The legal battle adds an extra layer of drama and tension, as you root for the attorney to succeed in getting justice for the children and the town. Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good true story with plenty of twists and turns.

This piece is amazingly reported and beautifully written. It truly should be required reading not just within the confines of law schools but in all schools, without exception.

The depth and clarity with which the content is presented make it a valuable resource for students of all disciplines. It has the potential to open minds and引发 discussions that can lead to a better understanding of various important issues.

Moreover, the附带的评论 (Best GR review I saw: I have friends who live in Woburn; I think I'll drink bottled water when I go visit.) adds an interesting and relatable perspective. It shows how the information in the article can have real-world implications and even influence personal decisions.

Overall, this is a remarkable piece that deserves to be widely read and studied.

A Depressing Dose of Reality

This was truly wild. The author's research was amazing, although perhaps a bit excessive. It could have been much shorter without including all the personal backgrounds of the people involved. This serves as yet another reminder that greed and power will always prevail over the truth, and in the end, no one truly wins. The amount of bias and inappropriateness that occurred throughout the years of this case is beyond imagination.

My only concerns with this book are the overemphasis on the personal details of people who may only appear for ten pages or so, as well as portraying every woman in the book, except for one, as having a crush on this lawyer. It was an interesting attempt to break up the depressing nature of the case, but it felt annoying and disruptive. It also served as an additional reminder that no one actually cared about the people of Woburn.

2 stars - 1 star for still being under copyright = 1 star.

This book has its promising and captivating moments. There is some interesting discussion about immunology near the beginning. However, it is about 375 pages too long.

The story is about two Russian Jews who joined The 700 Club while taking advantage of grieving parents through legal tricks to enrich themselves. It's supposed to be a retrospective of an attempt to do good that mostly failed, but it's hard not to notice how often the parents were screwed by their lawyer, (((Schlichtmann))).

The book is written like David Simon's Homicide, as an account by an observer present for the events. But seriously, the time spent reading this could be better used for LSAT prep or going through case law that interests you.

I agree with other reviewers on some points. The treatment of women in the book, written in the 90's, is somewhat questionable. It's not just about an environmental crusade but also a humblebrag about (((Schlichtmann))) getting some (probably non-Jewish) woman. These details paint a picture of a rather unlikable man.

The narration is heavily biased. The lawsuits caused a lot of friction and were part of the story of how manufacturing was affected in America. The lawyers were clearly on the take, and their actions had a cost paid in human life, even if it's not emphasized as much in this account.

(((Schlichtmann))) was an ass to everyone - his clients, adversaries, the judge, his employees, and colleagues. He justified his extravagance with excuses like "we have to look strong." The only good thing was that some of his fees were clawed back. But he didn't really suffer as the book claims - he lived happily ever after.

This book is a snow job. (((Schlichtmann))) was bankrupted by his own choices, not the case. The book tries to portray otherwise, but the illusion is transparent.

One thing the book does show clearly is that our existing institutions, especially lawyers and courts, are not effective at dealing with low-level but ultimately fatal, diffuse, long-acting harm. There are kinds of harm that lawyers won't fix when greed is involved. This represents a failure mode of morality and a gap in our theories of ecology and law that future generations need to solve.

What shall we use / to fill the empty spaces / where we used to talk?

**A Critical Analysis of "A Civil Action"**

Author Jonathan Harr presents the captivating case of Anderson v. Cryovac in "A Civil Action." His fast-paced and exciting writing style makes it an engaging read, often more like a thriller than a typical legal account. However, while the style is appealing, the message may be harmful.

Harr begins by introducing Anne Anderson, whose son Jimmy contracts leukemia. She discovers a high number of leukemia cases in Woburn, Massachusetts, traced back to toxic pollution from the city's water wells caused by two powerful corporations, Beatrice Foods and W.R. Grace. The story then follows lawyer Jan Schlichtmann as he takes on the case. Schlichtmann manages to secure an $8 million settlement, but the corporations are relatively unfazed, and he goes bankrupt.

Harr is praiseworthy for highlighting the human aspect of the environmental case. He starts with the victims and uses quotations to make the story more engaging. However, his portrayal is overly simplistic. He gives the impression that such incidents are common, when in fact, the threat of toxic waste was overblown according to epidemiological studies. Additionally, he presents a one-sided view of the struggle, painting the corporations as entirely evil and ignoring the role of consumer demand.

The biggest problem with the book is its discouraging message. It suggests that taking an ethical stand against environmental problems is fruitless. Schlictmann, the only one to take on the corporations, loses everything, while the corporations face little long-term consequence. This message taints an otherwise well-written book and may deter readers from getting involved in environmental struggles.

In conclusion, while "A Civil Action" may be entertaining, it fails to provide a nuanced and inspiring look at environmental issues. Those seeking a more substantial understanding or inspiration to fight for a just society should look elsewhere.

Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!

After reading the first couple of pages, this book truly took off and had me completely on the edge of my seat, right through to the very end. It's an extremely rare occurrence for me to read well into the wee hours of the morning just to finish a book, but this one had such a powerful hold on me that I simply couldn't put it down. There was absolutely no way I was going to turn out the light and roll over.

This book was not only exciting but also deeply emotional. At times, it was almost unbelievable that such events could be happening right here in the US, within ordinary towns. I found myself seething with anger at the corporate greed and denial, where they seemed to have absolutely no sense of responsibility for their actions. I was also dismayed by our justice system and the fact that a judge could be so unreasonable and yet somehow get away with it. No wonder it was so incredibly challenging and devastating for the prosecution. My heart ached for those people who had lost children and family members due to drinking water contaminated with toxic chemicals. It truly scares me to think about what could happen if environmental laws remain lax.

This book is perhaps a form of vindication, but it's also a crucial wake-up call to all of us. Could this happen to me? There are so many aspects to think about here.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has a penchant for suspense and legal thrillers. It will keep you on the edge of your seat and make you think long after you've turned the last page.

Honestly, I might be overrating this, but I truly thought it was extremely interesting. It provided very good insights into the high highs and low lows of life as a lawyer. The description painted a vivid picture of the challenges and rewards that come with this profession. It made me realize the complex and often unpredictable nature of a lawyer's work. One moment, they could be celebrating a major victory in the courtroom, feeling a sense of accomplishment and pride. The next moment, they might be facing a difficult case that seems insurmountable, filled with stress and uncertainty. This article really opened my eyes to the reality of what it means to be a lawyer and the emotional rollercoaster that comes with it.

I was reading for class and I was speeding through it.

But wow, I am experiencing second-hand frustration!

I don't know why I thought things would turn out differently.

The reality is that it is full of injustice.

This really makes me angry!!!!!!

It seems that no matter how hard we try, there are always things that don't go as we expect.

The world can be a cruel and unfair place.

But we can't give up.

We have to keep fighting for what is right and just.

Even if it seems like an uphill battle, we have to believe that things can change.

Maybe not overnight, but with perseverance and determination, we can make a difference.

So, although this reading has made me angry, it has also motivated me to do something about the injustice in the world.

I will not stand by and watch as others are treated unfairly.

I will do my part to make the world a better place.

There is no doubt that the case covered by Harr encompasses numerous highly significant topics.

Not only does it address environmental problems, but also delves into the fairness of the judicial system, presenting these issues in an engaging manner.

The idea of wading through political and scientific jargon is not the most appealing way to spend a lazy afternoon. However, Harr manages to tell the story in a way that blurs the line between fiction and non-fiction, much like the charming seriousness found in the pages of To Kill a Mockingbird.

The difficult-to-understand terms are elucidated through rather witty dialogue and what could be termed as 'frivolous' descriptions of the physical settings that drive the story forward.

Generally speaking, the overall ebb and flow of the book is well presented in terms of 'taking the reader on a journey'. The build-up of the trial holds the greatest interest for the reader, as they view the case with optimism and believe, along with Nesson, a Harvard Professor in the story, that justice will prevail 'if you work hard enough at it'.

It is only when the story concludes and the reader realizes how accustomed most audiences have become to happy endings that a harsh reality sets in.

This book offers a thought-provoking exploration of complex issues, presented in an accessible and engaging style that keeps the reader hooked from start to finish.