Abstract
Jonathan Harr's "A Civil Action" recounts the story of the action taken by attorney Jan Schlichtmann against the W. R. Grace chemical company and Beatrice Foods on behalf of families in Woburn, Massachusetts. The children of these families had contracted leukemia, the suit claimed, from the ingestion of chemicals, dumped illegally by subsidiaries of the two giant corporations, that entered the wells that supplied a portion of the town. The paper discusses the details of this case, including the claimed bias of the ruling Judge Skinner, the difficulty the jury had in reaching a decision and the role of the Environmental Protection Agency in the case.

From the Paper
"Even had the case proceeded on equal terms for both parties, however, the problem of convincing a jury to make a considerable reward on the basis of an essentially "unprovable" connection between TCE and leukemia presented a major problem that carries over to many toxic waste cases. Epidemiological studies, which might provide sufficient evidence of connections to direct scientists' attention to problems, are under-utilized and poorly understood by many. Such studies constitute the bulk of the evidence in some cases, but they can be far too easily misrepresented by defendants which leaves plaintiffs such as the Woburn group at a loss for anything the courts and juries will accept as meeting a standard of proof--despite almost everyone's common-sense conviction that the cause and effect have been identified."

Tags:Jan, Schlichtmann, civil, litigation, EPA, Facher

Abstract
In this article, the writer examines the role of civil sanctions in crime control. The writer explores the way civil sanctions are already used in criminal cases. The writer then argues that taking it a step further would benefit everyone involved by alleviating some of the nation's jail overcrowding issues and by providing financial relief to victims of criminals. The writer concludes that the time has come to introduce the use of civil sanctions to control crime in America. The writer points out that it would help alleviate jail overcrowding, it would benefit society by putting money back into the pocket it was taken from through crime and it will serve as a control for would be criminals to stop and think about whether the crime they are about to commit is worth it.

Outline:
Introduction
History
Crime Control
Conclusion

From the Paper
"To be fair, criminal court judges are also at their wits end as they try to handle overfilled courtroom dockets, maintain a sense of order and keep track of how many times a defendant has already been in trouble before deciding what punishment to hand down. Recent history has witnessed Americans taking the law into their own hands, not with acts of vigilantism but with acts of civil summons. Across the nation victims and families of victims in criminal actions are filing civil suits against those who committed the crimes against them or their loved ones. The trial of OJ Simpson was one of the most well known cases, in which the families of Ron Goldman and Nicole Simpson took the former pro-ball player to civil court and got a many million dollar ruling against him. In Nashville the case of attorney Perry March who killed his wife and then worked with his father to hide the body and escape prosecution for more than a decade has also been sued by his wife's family for the distress his actions caused them. The idea of filing civil suits against criminal defendants is not a new one, however, the civil action has nothing to do with the criminal proceedings. With the current overcrowding of America's jails and prisons, and crime including many more types of theft than ever before, the time has come to introduce civil sanctions as a valid method of crime prevention."

Tags:court, defendants, justice, suits

Abstract
This paper discusses how, through the struggle for equality, homosexuality has broken free from the restraints of social oppression and established itself as a legitimate lifestyle, with social order and moral and legal boundaries similar to heterosexuality. In particular, the paper looks at how far society has changed to meet the needs of homosexuals and debates whether, in essence, homosexuality has moulded itself in to a form of heterosexuality, mimicking the normal and approved sexual behaviour, demanding the same rights and privileges such as marriage. The paper debates whether society has really changed to accept this once considered criminal lifestyle, or whether the gay men and lesbians of Britain changed to suit the existing social order.

From the Paper
"With the invention of civil partnerships a form of same-sex marriage has been legalised and the formal social control has been removed, lifting the limitations on the institution of marriage and making it available for non-heterosexual couples. This relaxed formal social control with the changes in the law regarding homosexuality and marriage has led to an increase in visibility. Homosexuals are no longer kept out of the view of society and forced to live in a covert existence. For once the law is promoting homosexuality as an alternative to the heterosexual lifestyle, by granting similliar rights (the civil partnership act is far from equal to marriage) to same-sex couples British society has began to change its view on homosexuality. Marriage is no longer divided between the dichotomy of homo and hetero sexuality, it is a right both groups can claim; although heterosexual marriage is still given more credence than a civil partnership. "

Tags:heterosexuality, same-sex, marriage, gay, lesbian

Abstract
This paper discusses a breach-of-contract civil suit filed by Walt Disney/Buena Vista Home Entertainment against Blockbuster Video. Though the case was settled out-of-court through arbitration, this analysis discusses the details of the lawsuit and issues related to it and civil lawsuits.

Tags:videocassettes, revenue sharing, contract law, videos, plaintiff, burden of proof, legal system

Abstract
Jonathan Harr's A Civil Action recounts the story of the action taken by attorney Jan Schlichtmann against the W. R. Grace chemical company and Beatrice Foods on behalf of families in Woburn, Massachusetts whose children had contracted leukemia, the suit claimed, from the ingestion of chemicals, dumped illegally by subsidiaries of the two giant corporations, that entered the wells that supplied a portion of the town. The civil litigation was meant to secure damages for the families but, more importantly, it was intended to "send a message" to large corporations that they could not continue to pollute the environment with reckless disregard for the health and well-being of the people, many of them their own employees, who lived in such areas.

From the Paper
"Jonathan Harr's A Civil Action recounts the story of the action taken by attorney Jan Schlichtmann against the W. R. Grace chemical company and Beatrice Foods on behalf of families in Woburn, Massachusetts whose children had contracted leukemia, the suit claimed, from the ingestion of chemicals, dumped illegally by subsidiaries of the two giant corporations, that entered the wells that supplied a portion of the town. The civil litigation was meant to secure damages for the families but, more importantly, it was intended to "send a message" to large corporations that they could not continue to pollute the environment with reckless disregard for the health and well-being of the people, many of them their own employees, who lived in such areas. But what seemed like a fairly clear-cut case dragged on for a decade. The large corporations willingly spent millions..."

Abstract
This paper describes the process of taking a discrimination law suit through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (E.E.O.C.), civil litigation at the state and federal levels and to the Supreme Court.

From the Paper
"A discrimination complaint should first be filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (E.E.O.C.) and the employer notified that a complaint has been filed. The E.E.O.C. may handle the complaint in several different ways. A charge may be assigned for priority investigation if it appears the law has been violated, the E.E.O.C. can settle the charge at any point if the employer and employee wish to do so, the E.E.O.C. may select the charge for their mediation program to handle, the E.E.O.C. may dismiss ..."

Tags:discrimination, litigation, civil

Abstract
The case was Texas v. White. The state of Texas brought suit in the United States Supreme Court to have certain United States government bonds declared the property of the state, and to prevent the present holders of the bonds from collecting upon them. Texas had owned the bonds before the Civil War. As a means of financing during the war, while Texas was a member of the Confederacy, the bonds were sold. Texas now claimed that the sale was void and the bonds still belonged to the state.

Tags:texas, vs., white

Abstract
This essay serves to examine the wage inequalities between men and women in the modern day workforce. It references two specific examples of gender discrimination; Ann Hopkins' suit against Price Waterhouse in 1982 and Muriel Kraszewski's suit against State Farm. The author also explains in detail the ramifications of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which attempts to protect the rights of women who work in the same jobs as men.

From the Paper
"In order to fully gain equal employment and fairness, traditionally male positions must be opened to females. This is the only way to shatter the glass walls and ceilings that are so prevalent in today's society. Many women have fought discrimination and improved their own lives and the lives of countless other women over the span of several generations. The first step in creating equality in the workplace is to inform women of their rights. The next step is for these women to exercise their rights. Women can no longer allow themselves to be excluded from the workforce. Individuals concerned about equality should press for the continuation and strengthening of better paying jobs for women, and this support must not come from women alone. In order for our society to foster this change, we must understand why these changes are necessary. Society requires that men and women work together and this is not likely to change. What must change is the way that we work together. "

Tags:ceiling, discrimination, gender, glass, inequalities, segregation, sex, title, vii, wage

Abstract
This paper explains that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) chose General Motors, the world's largest automaker, as its target candidate because it would have the largest impact on moving the civil rights agenda forward. The author points out that the EEOC alleged that General Motors actively discriminated against black, Hispanic, and women workers. The paper states that, 20 years after the GMEEOC agreement and 40 years after civil rights legislation has been signed into law, there still is a problem in the work environment at General Motors

Table of Contents
The Players
Civil Rights Legislation
Clarence Thomas and the EEOC
General Motors An Easy Target
The Future of Civil Rights Legislation

From the Paper
"Because the injustices of discrimination did not end with the passage of laws, organizations such as the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) and EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) were created. The NAACP was one of the most significant of these organizations, and was led by chief legislator Thurgood Marshall. During his years spent with the NAACP, Thurgood developed a unique strategy to combat racial segregation throughout the United States. Without Thurgood breaking new legal ground, the Civil Rights Movement would not have gotten off the ground with the power and unified force with which is was eventually able to direct in the direction of General Motors. Marshall believed that the only way for change to occur was by altering the laws, and Thurgood Marshal was the first Civil Rights leader willing to use the law as means of change."

Tags:marshal, naacip

Abstract
This paper examines the trial of O.J. Simpson for the murder of Nicole Brown and Ronald Goldman. The paper uses legal terms to define murder, examines the life of O.J. Simpson and his relationship with his wife, Nicole Brown. Using several books written by the major figures in the case, Marcia Clark, Robert Shapiro and Daniel Petrocelli the paper examines the evidence, standards set by both the defense and prosecution, as well as the actual conduct of the criminal trial in order illustrate why he was not found guilty. The civil suit brought against O.J. Simpson by the Brown family is also examined briefly.

From the Paper
"The defense contended that all of this blood evidence was contaminated and/or planted by racists in the LAPD. (CNN.com) But even if Mark Fuhrman is a racist, this does not mean he planted evidence. And even if he did plant the alleged evidence, the fingerprint, this does not make the rest of the evidence pointing to Simpson go away. (Clark 482) The police had no access to Simpson's blood to plant. "This was preposterous" All of the blood was observed by investigators before Simpson returned to Chicago. As far as the glove was concerned, not one of the many officers at the crime scene ever saw a second glove there. Hence, there was no second glove to pick up and plant. Not is there any evidence that anything happened to ruin the blood during the police's procedures for collecting and testing it."

Tags:race, relations, jury, los, angeles, battery, wife, evidence, legal, football, heisman, dna, blood, lapd, lawyers, bronco, story, criminal, responsibility