what was the movie john travolta was in as a lawyer against beatrice foods

by Kristy Leffler 9 min read

A 1998 film of the same name, starring John Travolta as plaintiff's lawyer Jan Schlichtmann and Robert Duvall as Beatrice Foods attorney Jerome Facher, was based on the book.
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A Civil Action.
Cover to the paperback edition
AuthorJonathan Harr
Followed byThe Lost Painting: The Quest for a Caravaggio Masterpiece
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What is John Travolta's role in'a civil action'?

Jan Schlickmann (Travolta) is a cynical lawyer who goes out to "get rid of" a case, only to find out it is potentially worth millions. The case becomes his obsession, to the extent that he is willing to give up everything - including his career and his clients' goals, in order to continue the case against all odds.

Who was the defense lawyer for Beatrice Foods in the movie?

Quinoa1984 27 January 2001. John Travolta gives a pretty good performance here in Steve Zaillan's (scripter of Schindler's List) Civil Action as a hot shot lawyer who gets a case of people in a small town poisoned by the local water. Then the lawsuit begins, though we learn more here than any Grisham film.

What is the name of the movie with John Travolta as Facher?

With John Travolta playing Schlichtmann and Robert Duvall taking the role of his cunning opponent, an attorney for Beatrice Foods, the film also tells a compelling environmental tale....

Who is John Travolta’s lawyer Jan Schlichtmann on ‘the Big Bang theory’?

Feb 13, 2022 · Based on Stephen King’s New York Times best-seller, John Travolta starred in the movie. What Case Is A Civil Action Movie Based On? The Harvard University based book by Jonathan Harr about the Woburn case is a captivating read to begin with John Travolta as Boston lawyer Schlichtmann (the character based on John Travolta) who must find big bucks to force …

Is the movie A Civil Action a true story?

'A Civil Action' is based on a true story of a court case about environmental pollution that took place in Woburn, Massachusetts in the 1970s. It was a tragic time, for the people who lost their loved ones.

What was the dispute in A Civil Action movie?

"A Civil Action" focuses on a liability lawsuit filed by eight Woburn families against Beatrice Foods and W. R. Grace. These corporations were accused of dumping chemicals (especially trichlo roethylene, a probable human carcinogen) in ways that allowed the compounds to reach Woburn's water.

What was the amount of the settlement offered by WR Grace after their meeting with Jan in New York?

What he got instead was a mere $8 million settlement from W.R. Grace, which equaled about $450,000 per family, and nothing from Beatrice Foods.Dec 29, 1998

What happened at the end of the civil action movie?

The EPA files charges against the tannery's owners, and a much higher settlement is eventually offered and accepted, which included an apology and cleanup. At the end, it's revealed that it took Jan several years to pay off all of his debts, and he has since taken another polluted water case.

Is dark waters a remake of A Civil Action?

Todd Haynes' new film Dark Waters wades into some of the most complicated topics in public health, chemistry, and the law to dramatize the story of environmental attorney Robert Bilott and his nearly two decades of civil actions against DuPont.Nov 22, 2019

What was the verdict in the movie A Civil Action?

Following a 78-day trial, the jury dismissed the case against Beatrice in July 1986, but ruled that Grace was indeed responsible for polluting the wells. Skinner threw out the verdict on the grounds that the jury's written verdict was confusing and contradictory.

Does Schlichtmann eventually regret having taken the Woburn case?

(His wife still refuses to go to the annual Woburn gatherings for this reason.) Schlichtmann fell behind on his mortgage and started living in the office. But none of the partners regretted the case.Sep 22, 2009

Who won the Woburn case?

The jury deliberated for nine days and found W.R. Grace liable and Beatrice Foods not liable of contaminating wells G and H.Nov 14, 2016

What kind of lawyer was Jan Schlichtmann?

environmental lawyersBoston Class Action Lawyer Jan Schlichtmann is one of America's foremost environmental lawyers, specializing in toxic torts and consumer protection. He graduated from University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1973 before attaining his JD at Cornell University in 1977.Sep 30, 2021

What is the difference between civil action and criminal action?

Criminal cases happen when someone breaks a law, or commits a criminal offense, which typically results in jail time. Civil cases handle almost all other disputes, and typically aim for some sort of recovery. A criminal case is filed by the government and is led by a prosecuting attorney.Nov 11, 2019

Who is the plaintiff in A Civil Action movie?

John TravoltaA 1998 film of the same name, starring John Travolta as plaintiff's lawyer Jan Schlichtmann and Robert Duvall as Beatrice Foods attorney Jerome Facher, was based on the book.

What town was A Civil Action based on?

Woburn, MassachusettsMacy, Kathleen Quinlan, and Tony Shalhoub, it tells the true story of a court case about environmental pollution that took place in Woburn, Massachusetts in the 1980s.

Plot

Environmental toxicants in the city of Woburn, Massachusetts contaminate the area's water supply and become linked to a number of deaths of local children. Cocky Boston attorney Jan Schlichtmann and his small firm of personal injury lawyers are asked by Woburn resident Anne Anderson to take legal action against those responsible.

Differences from the book

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Filming

The movie was shot in Boston, Massachusetts; Dedham, Massachusetts; Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts; Waltham, Massachusetts; Northbridge, Massachusetts; Palmer, Massachusetts; Fenway Park; Boston Public Garden; and Beacon Hill, Boston.

Release

Despite showing promise on its initial limited release, A Civil Action was a box office failure on wide release, earning a domestic gross of $56 million against its $75 million budget.