A legal drama that traded box office gold for a sobering look at justice
In short: Released in 1998, A Civil Action depicts the true, grueling story of a Boston attorney who risked his firm’s survival to battle corporate giants over toxic groundwater. While the film earned critical praise for its intelligence, it became a financial casualty of a crowded holiday release schedule.
Directed by Steven Zaillian and starring John Travolta, the film chronicles the real-life legal battle of Anne Anderson and other Woburn, Massachusetts residents against Beatrice Foods and W. R. Grace and Company. The plaintiffs alleged that industrial solvents, specifically trichloroethylene, contaminated the local aquifer, leading to fatal cases of leukemia and other health crises. Initially, attorney Jan Schlichtmann viewed the case as a potential windfall to boost his firm's reputation, but as the litigation dragged on, the pursuit of justice became an all-consuming, debt-ridden obsession.
The narrative highlights the stark realities of toxic tort litigation, where the legal system often prioritizes procedural victories over environmental accountability. Schlichtmann’s stubborn refusal to accept settlement offers—including a $20 million proposal from attorney Jerry Facher—ultimately led to a jury verdict favoring Beatrice. The resulting financial ruin forced the dissolution of his firm and pushed him into bankruptcy. Despite the film's depiction of this personal and professional collapse, the EPA eventually utilized the evidence gathered during the trial to force the corporations to fund a massive cleanup effort.
Though the film was lauded by critics like Roger Ebert as a sophisticated alternative to typical legal thrillers, it struggled at the box office. Grossing $56 million against a $75 million budget, it was overshadowed by massive hits like Shakespeare in Love and Patch Adams. Today, the film remains a compelling study of the high costs of litigation, illustrating how the search for truth in environmental cases can often feel like staring into a bottomless pit.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: A Civil Action (film)
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