TABAN, Katrina O.

2018075631

Rule 11: A Reaction Paper

In this chapter, Jerome Facher was introduced to be an experienced trial lawyer who

happened to practice in Boston. Working for Beatrice Foods which is owned by the Riley

Tannery, he likewise taught at Harvard Law School for twenty years. With the onset of the

Woburn case, he sent his junior Neil Jacobs to talk to the tannery manager John J. Riley, who in

turn denied ever dumping toxins on the land. Meanwhile, another character was introduced to

the story. William Cheeseman, a lawyer specializing in pre-trial strategy rather than trials

themselves, was introduced as the legal counsel of W.R. Grace Co., which in turn owned

another manufacturing plant in Woburn. He filed a Rule 11 motion against Schlictmann in the

hopes of ending the case prematurely. Such motion charged the latter with filing an unfounded

lawsuit together with allegations of soliciting from clients. When the judge held a hearing on

the motion, Schlictmann refused to be crossed-examined. By the end of the chapter, the

motion based on Rule 11 was denied. Personally, I find the allegations ridiculous. A lawyer

friend once told me that if I were to survive in this profession, I should always be wary of my

actions since any flaws in my character could be used against me. I did not really understand

him at first, but upon reading this chapter, it opened my eyes to the sad reality that some

people would do whatever it takes in order to prevent justice from being served. Life is not

decided on a scale of black or white but I am not sure if such applies on legal cases. All I know is

that the case should at least be heard within a reasonable time frame.