Excellent book, gripping at times. I myself am a lawyer. At the risk of this being a spoiler, taking a big case that looks appealing but has a long run-up to generating money is a major risk in the profession. Taking a matter that promises to be prominent and/or lucrative has major risks. The outlay for the case can be huge. Workers, taxing authorities and suppliers are not notably patient. What happened to Schlichtmann was needless.

There are two things I wonder: 1) Why did Schlictmann let his "lead counsel" out so easily; and 2) why the environmental movement did not help.

The "devils advocate" question for me is whether the people with Woburn are better off with their legal victory, and the polluting plants shuttered. That question makes me wonder. ( )

nonfiction law case it was okay a bit boring in parts gives a good idea about what goes into a case ( )

A fast-paced non-fiction, that I had trouble putting down.

In the 1980's 2 corporate giants are accused of poisoning the water supply of a Massachusetts town. A small Boston firm takes on the case, and the lives of everyone involved are never the same.

Harr wrote this book as the case began taking shape and thus his research is impeccable. The book reads, like a well crafted thriller. Thoroughly enjoyed. ( )

Good read based on a true story that discusses the incredibly unethical, illegal, and troubling environmental and human damage that a bad company can inflict—and how difficult it can be to hold them accountable. Also discusses some of the real considerations that many lawyers face—including those that chase them to push too hard on some cases and the financial reasons they have for walking away from some. Well worth the time to read this one, even if you’ll be frustrated by much of what actually happened. ( )

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14417491

Wow. A page-turner. Packed with detail, the book follows a case from the first suggestion of wrong-doing, through various lawyers and into the hands of young, passionate lawyer Jan Schlichtmann, and all the way to the end.

In the Massachusetts town of Woburn Anne Anderson is faced with a diagnosis of a rare type of Leukemia in her three-year-old son. It is 1972. When she learns of other cases near her, and somebody mentions the water, she wonders. Could the foul-tasting, odorous water from her tap have anything to do with her son's illness? And thus it begins.

It's a bumpy road. As no specific cause for leukemia had been found, Anne faces skepticism or disinterest when she approaches the subject with her son's doctor. "When you buy a car of a certain make you start to see that type car everywhere," is his thought. The concept of "leukemia clusters" was generally not accepted by the medical community any more, and even the country's so-called cluster expert was skeptical.

Until two city wells, those feeding the neighborhood containing the "cluster", are found to contain toxic substances. Then Anne is even more interested. But it is no simple matter to find out where those substances came from.

When the case, such as it was, came to the desk of Jan Schlichtmann, there was no proof that the contamination came from nearby industrial businesses. Finding some kind of proof or overwhelming evidence was necessary. Like others before him, Schlichtmann was initially interested but then found other cases more productive. This one looked like a dark hole, a money pit at the least.

Schlichtmann is at the heart of the story. He has a large personality and a tendency to spend. He has made big money and lost it. Although fond of expensive things, especially his beautiful suits, he is not wedded to them. His passion for righting wrongs overwhelms his desire for material excess.

So ultimately we have a classic case of a young, ambitious lawyer up against the best legal teams to be had by big corporations. Schlichtmann is not alone but he leads the team and sets the tone. As he takes on larger and larger expenses, draining his firm's resources, gathering evidence bit by bit, we can hope for a Grisham-like ending. I know I did. ( )