A Civil Role Model

A detailed Summary of A Civil Role Model

The word civil carries a lot of weight. The usage needs to be carefully considered when it's entered into a sentence or a phrase. Civil means a wide variation of things. It can be defined as a way to be observant of the forms required for good breeding. It can also be a means to the needs and affairs of the general public. However, the latter of the two definitions can also be stretched to include a definition of the private rights and the remedies sought by action or suit. The point is that the word civil has a greater meaning that has been embraced by our American legal culture. It is the premise that law is there to serve the people and the lawyers are nothing more than mere guardians of law.

These are thoughts that were considered during the class viewing of A Civil Action. In the proceedings of the case, there were many concerns that were brought up about our legal culture. For example, was the quest for money so great that it clouds the goals of the case? If the testimonies were that technical, was it fair for the Judge to cut the trial at the point he did, with the questions he wrote? This does not even include the degrees of separation that exist from the true story. Is what was depicte

d by speakers and the movie and accurate representation of the case? However, the most important question is whether or not the actions of the head counsel were done for the public good or in for the lust for money.

In addition, Jan should have taken the opportunity in the meetings with Anne Anderson to explain to her how money would have been the apology she was looking for. To begin with, an explanation of what type of an apology she was going to get was in order. It should have been made clear, by Jan, that there was going to be no verbal communication of an apology from W.R. Grace and Beatrice. If there was an apology both companies would be openly admitting that they were at fault and inviting thousands of other suits. Also, it was Jan's duty as a lawyer to convey to his clients that an apology in the form of money is sufficient and efficient. Companies don't want to lose money and therefore it serves as an apology and a punishment. If Anne Anderson was searching for someone to take the blame and clean up the mess, it was also the responsibility of her counsel to explain that Courts usually order someone to clean up whether its them or the Courts. In the end, companies definitely are not big fans of negative publicity either. The families should have been made aware that seeking money from the companies was the only way to make them realize what they did was wrong and to ensure such an act never happens again. In the long run, the movie portrayed the profession of lawyers as greedy and self-serving people.

At the end of the movie, Jan has lost his partners, his car, his house, his staff, his office and his practice. He has also lost the case. He was unable to provide for the large cash settlement he and his

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Approximate Word count = 1172
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

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