Jonathan Harr has written a gripping novel, entitled A Civil Action, about the true events of an emotional court case involving two large corporations and the families who were gravely affected. In Woburn, Massachusetts, twenty-eight children contracted acute lymphocytic leukemia between 1964 and 1986. The explanation for the contracting of the disease and even the death of some children was discovered in the water; two municipal wells near the city were found to be contaminated with toxic chemicals. Eight families have filed a lawsuit against W.R. Grace & Co. and Beatrice Foods Inc., accusing them of contamination of the wells and the deaths of their children. The families just wanted an apology and the truth, but when the case began, finding out the truth became difficult. One of the prevalent themes throughout the book is the conflict between the search for truth and the judicial process. The two are almost always incompatible with each other in the courtroom, and A Civil Action illustrates this quite well. The fight for the truth was replaced by the procedural tactics used by the accused, whose goal was to prevent the truth from coming out. It is natural for the plaintiff and the defendant to use tactics to create the verdict rather than using the facts of the case because they both aim for success. Misinformation, partial truths and withheld facts are common in courtrooms, and a scene from A Civil Action shows how this can change the entire trial. The people in the courtroom can manipulate the process so that the odds are in their favor. The truth is rarely the center of attention. The courtroom is not used to discover the truth. It is used to gain power and wealth. Jerome Facher, a defendant in the Woburn for Grace case, was good with...... middle of paper ...... cleanup of the tainted began, proving that with a long and painstaking process, the truth can be found . Even though the judicial process got in the way and extended the longevity of the process, it was worth it in the end. In conclusion, discovering the truth, the facts and the goal of justice should be the main purpose of any civil case. Unfortunately the judicial process gets in the way. The legal system becomes unjust and in some cases justice is never served. Seeing the story unfold and reading about the struggle between wealth, power and justice is exciting, but sad at the same time. The book is important and should be read by everyone, from those who are studying the legal system to those who are not studying it. It is an exciting and engaging book. It cannot be forgotten. One man can make the biggest difference and finding the truth is far more fulfilling than any wealth.