A civil action videorecording Touchstone Pictures and Paramount Pictures present a Wildwood Enterprises/Scott Rudin production ; produced by Scott Rudin, Robert Redford, Rachel Pfeffer ; screenplay by Steven Zaillian ; directed by Steven Zallian.

Based on the book by Jonathan Harr.

A Civil Action is a 1998 American legal drama film written and directed by Steven Zaillian, based on the 1995 book of the same name by Jonathan Harr. Environmental toxicants in the city of Woburn, Massachusetts contaminate the area's water supply and become linked to a number of deaths of local children. Cocky Boston attorney Jan Schlichtmann and his small firm of personal injury lawyers are asked by Woburn resident Anne Anderson to take legal action against those responsible. After originally rejecting a seemingly unprofitable case, Jan finds a major environmental issue involving groundwater contamination that has great legal potential and realizes the local tanneries could be responsible for several deadly cases of leukemia. Jan decides to go forward against two giant corporations which own the tanneries—Beatrice Foods and W. R. Grace and Company—thinking that the case could possibly earn him millions and boost his firm's reputation. Bringing a class action lawsuit in federal court, Jan represents families who demand an apology and a clean-up of contaminated areas. However, the case develops a life of its own and takes over the lives of Jan and his firm.

MPAA rating: PG-13.

English and French soundtracks.

Closed-captioned.