BGS Model In A Civil Action

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In the film “A Civil Action” the four models of the business-government-society (BGS) relationship were depicted, although some more strongly than others. In addition to these BGS models, several of the seven key environmental forces were depicted as having an impact on business. To begin, I will relate the film to each of the four BGS models and determine whether each model reflects the BGS relationship as depicted in the film. I will follow with identifying which of the seven environmental forces are depicted as having an impact on business. In the beginning of the film the Law firm of Schlichtmann, Conway, and Crowley can be related to the BGS market capitalism model in several ways. This personal injury law firm was driven by the…show more content…
Schlichtmann begins to be influenced by non market forces. He becomes more empathetic with the families who lost their children. His feelings get more intense and his motivating factor (money) is no longer his reason for pursuing the case. He probably could have settled for $25 million with both companies, but he wanted more for the families, so he let his emotions take over and caused the case to go to trial. During deliberations to determine if there was enough evidence to continue with the trial, Schlichtmann had a second opportunity to accept a $20 million offer from Beatrice Foods, again non market forces (his emotions) influenced his decision to decline the offer. In the end Schlichtmann settles for $8 million after much debate with his partners, who had competing interests. Schlichtmann’s partners wanted to make sure they could settle for enough to cover their expenses, otherwise they would lose all of their assets. Schlichtmann want more than the $8 million but ultimately accepted it because of the pressures he faced from his partners. The stakeholder model of the BGS relationship, in my opinion, is not depicted in this film. Although there are many stakeholders (the town of Woburn, the children, the employees of the tannery, as well as the owners/stockholders of W. R. Grace…show more content…
The economic environment impacted the law firm’s choice in pursuing the Woburn case. The law firm considered the profits of W. R. Grace Company and Beatrice Foods before deciding to take the case. If these two companies had not had multi-million dollar profits, the law firm would have never taken the case. The government environment had a financial impact on W. R. Grace and Beatrice Foods with regards to the EPA and the results of its investigation into the contamination of the land and ground water in the Woburn case. Both companies were fined and forced to clean up the land. The legal environment impacted the J. J. Riley Tannery by exposing their illegal dumping of waste; eventually the owner sold his business. The other key environmental forces played a role in the film but were not depicted as

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