A Civil Action

Schlichtmann and Conway start their own firm and agree to take only 10 new cases each year. They quickly reject frivolous cases, which they call “dogs.” “Orphans” are cases like Woburn that are rejected by other law firms. Schlichtmann wins $4.7 million on a case for Paul Carney, who contracted an infection after being hospitalized for a car accident. It is the biggest settlement in the state’s history and gives Schlichtmann the boost of confidence he needs to take on Woburn.

On February 8, 1984, at Trinity Episcopal Church, two professors from Harvard’s School of Public Health present the results of their three-year study on leukemia in Woburn. Over 300 people, including Schlichtmann, attend. Another study tracks pregnancy and childbirth in Woburn from 1960-1982, representing over 5,000 children. The study concluded that water from Wells G and H were strongly linked to an array of terrible health consequences. Woburn infants had an increased rate of fetal and newborn deaths in the areas compelled to consume the greatest amounts of the well water. There were also higher instances of allergies, skin conditions, and various respiratory ailments. After detailing the links between many other conditions and the water, the report closes by affirming that exposure to the water also correlates to high instances of childhood leukemia.