A Civil Action (1998)

Kathleen Quinlan: Anne Anderson

Photos 

Quotes 

• James Gordon : [Regarding the case and the following settlement]  Mrs. Anderson, you're looking at four guys who are broke. We lost everything trying this case.

  Anne Anderson : How can you even begin to compare what you've lost, to what we've lost.

• Jan Schlichtmann : [On the radio talk show]  Personal injury law has a bad reputation they call us "ambulance chasers", "bottom feeders", "vultures that prey on the misfortunes of others", if that's true why do I lay awake at nights worrying about my clients why does their pain become my pain? I wish I could find some way not to empathize, it'd be a lot easier

  Radio Talk Show Host : [On the radio talk show]  Speaking with Jan Schlichtmann personal injury attorney and according to Boston Magazine one of Boston's Ten Most Eligible Bachelors, let's go back to the phones: Woburn you're on the air

  Anne Anderson : [On the radio talk show]  Hello, Mr. Schlichtmann it's Ann Anderson how come you never called me? My son died of leukemia two years ago and your firm is handling the case, the reason why I'm calling you there is because my phone calls haven't been returned in a few weeks, I have an idea, why don't you come up to Woburn one of these days and meet these people whose "pain is your pain"?

• Jan Schlichtmann : We start with the scientific evidence then the medical experts and their evidence and then the parent's testimonies, your presence is very important this is where the jury gets to know you if your there some days and not other days they say "why wasn't she there? Does she really care?"

  Anne Anderson : I'll be there every day in the back left hand corner

  Jan Schlichtmann : Well, wherever you're most comfortable

  Anne Anderson : [referring to her deceased son]  That was our plan if we ever got separated at the department store or supermarket we'd meet in the back left hand corner when he was dying he said, "I'll meet you in the back left hand corner of heaven"

• Anne Anderson : When you first came out here Mr.Schlichtmann, when we first spoke I told you I wasn't interested in money: what I wanted was an apology for what they did to my son and you said they apologize with their check books, would you call this an apology?

  Jan Schlichtmann : no, the only "meaningful, " apology is the one you're going to get is from me: I'm sorry.

• Anne Anderson : [to Jan during a meeting with the other victim's families]  When I stand on my front porch I can see all the houses where children have died, none of us are interested in money that's not why we're doing this, what we want is to know what happened and we want an apology from whoever did this, I want somebody to come to my house and say "we're responsible we did this, we didn't mean it, but we did it and we're sorry"