Prominent litigator Jan Schlichtmann to discuss environmental justice in the courts at University of Richmond School of Law
November 10, 2006
Jan Schlichtmann, one of the country’s most notable plaintiff’s attorneys, whose character was played by John Travolta in the 1999 movie, "A Civil Action,” will speak at University of Richmond School of Law about the landmark lawsuit he filed on behalf of eight Massachusetts families against W.R. Grace and Beatrice Foods, alleging dumping of a cancer-causing industrial solvent into their drinking water.
The talk, “Civil Actions and Environmental Justice,” will be held Nov. 15, from 4–5:30 p.m. in the Law School’s Moot Court Room. Sponsored by the Robert R. Merhige Center for Environmental Studies, the event and reception are free and open to the public.
On Nov. 14 the law school will show the film “A Civil Action” at 4 p.m. in the Moot Court Room. It also is free and open to the public.
Noah Sachs, faculty director of the Merhige Center for Environmental Studies, said, “We are excited to have such a prominent environmental lawyer here in Richmond. Schlichtmann is someone who believes in the rights of citizens to have clean waters, safe communities and access to the courts when they’ve been harmed.”
Sachs added that law students around the country and at Richmond Law still read about the Woburn case from the 1980’s to learn about the American legal system in action. “Schlichtmann is someone who can make complex issues of civil procedure and environmental law come alive by reminding us of the personal stories behind the headlines. He is a passionate speaker and advocate.”
Since the bitter, emotional nine-year legal battle over the Woburn contamination ended, Schlichtmann has continued to represent plaintiffs in environmental and personal injury cases up and down the East Coast. He speaks widely on environmental law and reform of the litigation system, and he is the founder of the Legal Broadcast Network, an online information service for lawyers, experts and scholars.