Objecting to his portrayal in Jonathan Harr’s best-selling book A Civil Action, an account of toxic tort litigation over contaminated well water in Woburn, Massachusetts, that allegedly caused the death of several children, John J. Riley, Jr.
sued Harr and his publisher for defamation and related torts. He was joined in that lawsuit by his wife, Diane W. Riley.
John J. Riley This person is the operations manager of a tannery, a subsidiary of Beatrice Foods, which is accused of contaminating Woburn Wells G and H with TCE. Tom Barbas, The tannery became a division of Beatrice, with John Riley serving as its chief operating officer. In 1983, Beatrice divested itself of the Rileyco property. The tannery was resold to John Riley, who again operated it under the name Rileyco.
Riley is a hotheaded man in his fifties who is proud of his business and has little patience for environmental regulation. He sees all environmentalism as a conspiracy intended to cut into his bottom line. Years earlier the state had decreed that J.J. Riley Tannery had to build a million-dollar, waste-treatment facility.
A Civil Action (1998) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
J . J . RILEY COMPANY and ) BEATRICE FOODS COMPANY, )) Fourth Party ) Defendants ) MOTION TO AMEND COMPLAINT The plaintiffs hereby move, pursuant to Rule 15(a) of Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, to amend the pleadings to add John J . Riley Co.
in its individual corporate capacity, as a defendant and assign as reasons the following:, 11/14/2016 · Beatrice Foods purchased the John Riley Tannery in 1978 and sold it back to the Riley family in 1983, but retained legal liability for any lawsuits. The tannery also owned a 15-acre parcel of land on the east side of the B&M train tracks. This parcel abutted the Aberjona River and extended parallel to the river for about one quarter of a mile.
