Four Trials

Cover of the hardcover edition.

Four Trialsis abookby formerU.S. SenatorJohn EdwardsofNorth Carolinaand his co-writer,John Auchard.The book was published bySimon & Schusterin December 2003, before Edwards unsuccessfully ran for theDemocratic Party presidential nominationand, later,vice presidenton theDemocratic Partyticket with fellow SenatorJohn KerryofMassachusettsin the2004 presidential election.

The book isautobiographicalin nature and relates the story of fourcivil trialswhere Edwards acted as anattorneyfor people seekingdamages(petitioners) against large institutions andinsurance companies(respondents). Interspersing the stories of each trial are remembrances from Edwards's childhood, time at theUniversity of North Carolina School of Law,and meeting his wife,Elizabeth Anania Edwards.Edwards also wrote about his children (including Wade, his teenage son who died in acar accident).

The four trials are covered in four chapters: "E.G." (analcoholicwho was treated by an aggressiveaversion therapythat causedcomaandbrain damage), "Jennifer" (a woman whose child had serious injuries because herobstetriciandidn't perform aCesarean section), "Josh" (a young child whose parents were killed in a car crash by a speedingtruckdriver who was paid by the number of miles he drove), and Valerie Lakey (a girl, age five, who was seriously injured by a swimming pool drain due to a faulty design).

External links

• Excerpt from the book