Court Says ‘Civil Action’ Lawyer Had Right to Sue Fellow Attorneys

Jan Schlichtmann didn't violate state law when he sued his fellow plaintiffs lawyers in a fee fight, a Massachusetts court ruled Monday. But the ruling isn't likely to help him recover any money. The lawyer, known for his role in the case that inspired the book "A Civil Action," had sued to try to recover $9 million in lost legal fees. He claimed he lost the money when Nestle backed out of a settlement to prevent a lawsuit against it for allegedly making fraudulent claims about the purity of its water.