A Civil Action? In the American Civil Judicial system, justice is….. In A Civil Action, by Jonathan Harr, there are several barriers that impede this search for justice. Through authority, groupthink, cognitive dissonance, and bias; these barriers constantly challenge plaintiff's attorney Jan Schlictmann. The barrier of authority works against Schlictmann at several points in the case. During the depositions, workers from John J. Riley Tannery and W. R. Grace deny any knowledge of chemicals being dumped on the property of either company. Al Love, a worker from Grace, later confesses that he saw chemicals being dumped every day on the grounds behind the building. The workers ha