MovieChat Forums > A Civil Action (1999) Discussion > W. R. Grace

W. R. Grace

posted 19 years ago by hb23
6 replies | jump to latest

Is this a person or the name of the company?

At the end the text says: ***(MINOR SPOILER)***

W.R. Grace was indicted by the Grand Jury for making false statements to the EPA regarding its use of the chemicals TCE, acetone and toluene. The company pleaded no contest to the acetone charge. Its Woburn plant was closed in 1990.

I looked up the full credits for this movie and there is no GRACE person, but there are GRACE workers, so this must be the company right? Who was the head of the company (characters in this movie)?

[–] bbgun5310 19 years ago

WR Grace was the name of the company. It's CEO in the movie was Al Eustis, played by Sydney Pollack. His scenes were near the end of the movie when he and Jan first met at the Harvard Club and then went back to his office to discuss a settlement.

[–] jelfman 18 years ago

Also, if you were interested in another movie featuring the environmental irresponsibility of the W.R. Grace corporation, I suggest you see "Libby, Montana", which is an excellent documentary about the town of Libby and the poisoning of the environment (and the citizens) due to asbestos contamination from the vermiculite processing plant, owned by the W.R. Grace corporation.

[–] dsmurf 18 years ago

W.R. Grace was founded by an Irish emmigrant named William Russel Grace in 1854. To escape the Potatoe Famine he fled Ireland for Callao, Peru where he worked in the shipping business starting in 1851. During this time, the Peruvian shipping industry was experiencing a massive economic boom from the export of guano (dried bird dung) for use in commercial fertilizer. Grace himself eventually worked his way to the top to become founder and sole owner of W.R. Grace and Company. William Grace later moved to New York in 1862 where he was elected the city's first Irish-born mayor.

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] tricksoftrade01 15 years ago

This company recently filed for bankrupcy protection. They are currently being sued for a Montana mining asbestos case.

[–] nutsberryfarm 11 years ago

they lack it.

Where there's smoke, there's barbecue!