In the movie A Civil Action, the plaintiffs are a group of families from Woburn, Massachusetts, who collectively seek justice for severe illnesses, including leukemia, believed to be caused by industrial contamination of their drinking water.
The Parties Involved
The narrative of A Civil Action is based on a real-life environmental lawsuit, chronicling the legal battle waged by these Woburn families against two large corporations they accused of polluting their local water supply.
The key parties in this landmark legal drama include:
- The Plaintiffs: The affected families of Woburn, Massachusetts. While the film often focuses on a few representative families, it underscores the collective impact on the community.
- Plaintiff's Lawyer: The film stars John Travolta as Jan Schlichtmann, the ambitious and persistent attorney who takes on the families' case. Schlichtmann's firm represents the plaintiffs in their pursuit of justice.
- Defendants: The corporations accused of the pollution, primarily W.R. Grace and Beatrice Foods. The protracted legal battle against these entities, including those associated with Cryovac, formed the core of the lawsuit. Early legal proceedings, such as the denial of defendants' motion to dismiss, reported at 96 F.R.D. 431, highlighted the contentious nature of the case from its initial stages.
- Defense Lawyers: Robert Duvall portrays Jerome Facher, the astute and highly experienced attorney representing Beatrice Foods, presenting a formidable legal challenge to Schlichtmann and his team.
The Heart of the Civil Action
The movie vividly portrays the immense challenges faced by the plaintiffs and their legal team. Their struggle highlights the complexities of environmental law and the David-and-Goliath nature of citizens taking on powerful corporations.
Key aspects of their journey include:
- Evidence Gathering: The monumental task of collecting scientific and medical evidence to prove a direct link between industrial waste, contaminated water, and the illnesses suffered by the children.
- Financial Strain: The significant financial burden placed on both the plaintiffs and their legal representation as the case drags on for years, requiring vast resources for investigations, expert testimonies, and court fees.
- Emotional Toll: The immense emotional toll on the families, who are not only grappling with the loss and suffering of their children but also enduring a draining legal fight.
The plaintiffs' fight in A Civil Action became a symbol of environmental advocacy and the pursuit of corporate accountability, demonstrating the profound impact that a group of determined citizens can have when seeking redress for environmental injustice.
