Jan Schlichtmann, 'A Civil Action' Lawyer, Speaks
Jan Schlichtmann, a Massachusetts attorney who was the central character in the 1999 movie "A Civil Action," discussed aspects of his profession with students of the Washburn University School of Law on October 18, 2001 in the Andrew J. and Georgia Neese Gray Theatre.
Mr. Schlichtmann talked about his role in the lawsuit filed by eight Massachusetts families against W.R. Grace and Beatrice Foods for having dumped a cancer-causing industrial solvent into the water table. He discussed the wide-ranging nature of the case, the involvement of experts from many specialties, and how his role led him to appreciate the interaction and interdependence of all levels of life.
Schlichtmann is regarded as one of the country's most notable plaintiff's attorneys and he specializes in the area of complex civil litigation including environmental, product and toxic tort litigation. He is best known for his involvement in the Woburn, Massachusetts case. The controversy surrounding the case was the basis of the 1995 book, A Civil Action, by Jonathan Harr. The movie of the same title was released in 1999 and starred John Travolta.
After the case was settled out of court, Schlichtmann assisted in authoring a complete revision of the Massachusetts hazardous waste statute. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, earned a law degree at Cornell University and at one time served as special counsel on the U.S. House Special Select Committee on Assassinations.
Mr. Schlichtmann spoke in conjuntion with the Ahrens Advanced Torts Seminar at Washburn University School of Law. The torts seminar is organized by Charlene L. Smith, Professor at Washburn Law, who also serves as director of the Ahrens Chair in Tort Law. The Ahrens Chair in Tort Law was created by funds contributed to Washburn Law in 1986 by the Wichita law firm of Michaud, Cordry, Michaud, Hutton and Hutton. Schlichtmann's talk was preceded by a luncheon with law school students and faculty in the Bradbury Thompson Center.
Learn more about A Civil Action the University of Washington Gallagher Law Library web site.
