Blindsided: The True Story of One Man's Crusade Against Chemical Giant DuPont for a Boy with No Eyes

by James L. Ferraro, Laura Morton

In 1996, an unprecedented decade-long courtroom battle was waged in Florida to help bring justice and hope to the family of a young boy born with no eyes after his mother was doused outside of a local u-pick farm by a chemical fungicide believed to have caused his birth defect and the birth defects of many other children. It was a battle that nearly everyone but attorney Jim Ferraro deemed unwinnable. After all, it involved one of the world’s most powerful industrial giants. In the process, it was a fight that changed the landscape of tort law forever. Before it was over Castillo-vs-DuPont would go down in history as the first and one of the most important cases of its kind, setting precedent and also sparking a crucial debate over the questionable use of what is known as the “junk-science defense.” Blindsided is a blow-by-blow account of how a lone attorney challenged a dangerous threat to public health….and how the defenders never saw defeat coming. It’s a real life David and Goliath story―a true courtroom drama for the ages.

Genres: Nonfiction, Business, Science, Memoir

248 pages, Hardcover

First published May 23, 2016

Reviews

[Lucie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I thought the book was pretty good. However, as a blind person I found some of the descriptions of blindness to be quite inaccurate. Blind people can live fulfilling lives, as I have done. It makes people pity us, and makes it hard for us to be seen in a positive way. The perception that we are helpless is very troubling, as many of us struggle to find work. Not because we are not capable of working, but it's hard to overcome those stereotypes.

[Taylor Zenz · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a hard read for me, not because of the legal side and the story of the court, but because of the autobiographical side. I have never encountered a more arrogant author before. It was difficult to find a single page where the author didn’t talk about how smart, clever, or generous of a guy he was. I am well aware that at the beginning of the story he said that he was not a humble man, and I was prepared to bear through some irritating text to get to the interesting parts of the text. I was not prepared for the author to shoehorn his fitness, altruism, and intelligence on every single page of the book. This book felt much less educational than I hoped it would be, and much less about the Castillos and far more about Ferraro. If anyone was genuinely interested in this case, I would prefer to guide them to the official court transcripts rather than this book. It’s unfortunate because the science involved in the case is interesting, but it is overshadowed by Ferraro’s self-indulgence.

[Z1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say I was surprised by this book. Most autobiographies I read were dull and boring, not to mention that the author isn’t even a writer. However, I found myself quickly interested in this story of a man standing for a weak, small boy with no eyes. I shouldn’t really call it a story as it actually happened. I expected less than what I got which is always a good thing. You can’t really say anything about plot or characters if they are real people. Overall, it was a nice book. Ferraro definitely has some writing potential, probably from his days speaking as a lawyer. It’s a nice, quick read that you could probably finish while eating lunch. My only complaint is that some legal terms made it difficult for me to understand but at times like this, Google is your best friend. I enjoyed this book and it helped me regain a little faith in humanity that we are not, in fact, always horrible.

[Gerry Durisin · Rating 1 out of 5]

James L. Ferraro could take a lesson from Eric Larsen or Laura Hillenbrand or one of the many other current authors of engaging narrative non-fiction. His story of a legal battle against chemical giant DuPont over injury to a young boy who was exposed in utero to a dangerous chemical was quite the opposite of engaging, and came across instead as a self-congratulatory memoir with far too much ego and too little human interest. This one fills the category for a book I would not recommend for this year's challenge.

[Laurie Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jim Ferraro's book that recounts the blow by blow legal drama of the true life Castillo-vs-Dupont case pulls you in. This book is wonderfully read and holds your interest (it's a page turner). It's remarkable that this story was the reality for the Castillo family and for a Lawyer who was brave enough to take on a giant.

[Hilary Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story is fascinating and gives so much information about how the court system works and the process of this case. However, the author is so self-satisfied and self-aggrandizing, as well as angry and insulting toward others, that it was difficult to finish the story. I wanted the plaintiff to win, but this obnoxious lawyer to lose.

[Mary Manson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Book

I worked for 25+ years as a litigation legal assistant and I have to say this book is wonderful! To read about the heartache of the Castillo family and the dressing down their attorney gave DuPont was incredible. You do not need a legal background to understand the story. The attorney wrote in clear and concise terms so as to be on adult readers' level of comprehension. I highly recommend this book!

[Brenda Jett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting Truth Telling

This true story of David, James Ferraro,taking on the giant, DuPont is an engrossing page turner. Ferrari turns what could have been a dry procedural into an intriguing look at a landmark case. The Castillo family must deal with the heartbreak of having a son with no eyes. Ferraro knows DuPont and farm that used toxic chemicals are at fault. With meticulous planning and preparation he sets out to make them pay.

[Jerome Maida · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of an unprecedented battle by the author to seek justice for a bot born with no eyes by going against the company that made the chemical that he alleges seeped through his mother's skin and caused his birth defect. Very sharp and to the point, the book reads like a good Grisham novel, only the players are, unfortunately, real. Do the good guys win? You won't truly know until the last page.

[Patrick Pilz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice non-fiction read for a 4-hour flight. A short and impressive legal drama taken from the headlines, written a tiny little bit like a promo book for the law firm that never gave up.

Enjoyable read, but do not expect a deeply developed cast of characters, this is fast paced, quick and entertaining.

[Gerald M. Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a retired lawyer, I am always interested in accounts of leading cases, and how they were litigated. This is one of them; an interesting case, with fascinating issues. And well presented.

The only problem is that the author/ plaintiff's attorney presents the case as if he were the second coming of whomever. It's just too much self back patting. aside from that, I enjoyed the book.

[Maura Cullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Protecting all of us

This was an inspiring book about fighting corporations that use chemicals that harm us. It described the misuse of toxic treatments and how we must educate ourselves so we won’t continue to be poisoned. It showed how large corporations use their influence for economic gains at the cost of making us sick. I highly recommend reading this book.

[laurena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating read, and one of those stark, extreme examples of pesticide exposure and corporate malfeasance that contextualizes other situations that are not so obviously clearcut. It's been a few years since I read it but it was gripping. At times the author seemed a bit self-aggrandizing, but at the same time I thought rightly so. He took on an incredible challenge and it's quite the story.

[Mark Prussian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read. Spellbinding legal tale of a battle against corporate greed causing microphalmia. Got to meet co-author Laura Morton and hear her talk about helping write the book and about 40 others she has co-authored

[Ashley Tovar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was particularly heart wrenching to read while pregnant but it was a very well done narrative of a very meaningful story. The author tells a complex story in a way that is easy to follow & not too drawn out. Very heartfelt & interesting

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read. A lot of legal moves explained. And explains why a lot of lawyers back away from big lawsuits against people of power and Corp. Also explains how big companies can get away with almost anything. I think we could include drs. in this group too.

[Andrew Degruccio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Important information about the obstacles faced by the general public when facing corporate America. The details of the court process were interesting to this novice. The arrogant writing style put me off a bit.

[Kendra Haggerty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and disturbing true story. Too detailed for my taste.

[Charley Beans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting trial story

Very realistic because it is true. The author is not always sympathetic, however.

Seven more words are required so there,

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book, but all of the legal terms made it to slow for me. It would of been a better read, if I had a career in that field of law.

[Debbie West · Rating 5 out of 5]

True Story . Was an interesting read . I didn't know they had made a movie

[Karen Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but uplifting true legal story of an attorney who took on DuPont over a chemical that causes blindness if exposed to fetuses. Product used on crops world wide and poorly tested.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book. Was neat to learn about how this lawyer went about going after DuPont to get justice for a young boy born without eyes do to their negligence with their chemicals.

[Ashlan Rowan]

Wait I was looking up Christian Slater audiobooks and here he is with this but it’s only life five minutes long so I’m pretty sure that’s not right but you know it’s Christian slater so whatever

[Deborah Escobar · Rating 4 out of 5]

True story, true hero in this legal drama. Learned a lot about the law in this case, but it kept me reading and was very intriguing. Wow. I wish things like this didn't happen but they do all the time.

[Paul S. Zeitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blindsided was an excellent and riveting read. Once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. The tenacity of James Ferraro was inspiring and the intricacies of waging a legal battle through the court system was fascinating.

[Atílio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muito melhor com a narração do Christian Slater.

[Susie D]

interesting