Canary in the Courtroom: How Pesticide Poisoning Changed a Woman's Life and Forced Her into Civil Action [Paperback]

Jessie MacLeod (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 4, 2006

Canary in the Courtroom is the compelling true story of a woman poisoned in her own home by a pesticide and her resultant civil action against the pesticide company that applied it. It raises questions and encourages awareness about the toxins in our environment.

Christine Rankine, then a 54-year-old teacher, was living a normal, busy life when she hired Vermini Termite and Pesticide Company to kill termites in her home. Vermini assured her that the chemical applied was a safe and natural product. After the pesticide application, Christine became very ill, with a burning sensation in her throat and lungs, as well as the inability to breath normally.

This courtroom drama and the story that parallels it provide insight into what can happen to an individual after becoming chemically injured. In this powerful biography, author Jessie MacLeod examines the influence of the chemical industry and illustrates how labels and manufacturers’ claims are often deceptive. She exposes legal loopholes that allow toxic ingredients in commonly used products and discloses weakness in federal laws and regulations that are meant to protect the consumer. Ms. MacLeod skillfully weaves credible research, colorful characters, and entertaining courtroom drama into this riveting story.

What happened to Christine Rankine could happen to anyone. Reading her story will enlighten you and perhaps give you the knowledge necessary to save you or a family member from possible chemical injury. This book is a must-read for anyone concerned about product safety and for anyone in the mood for a good courtroom drama.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jessie MacLeod has been a corporate meeting planner for a multinational pharmaceutical company and a copywriter for a major Napa Valley winery. She has been an elementary school teacher and is now a freelance journalist. She lives in Southern California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 322 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse, Inc. (April 4, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595380522
• ISBN-13: 978-0595380527
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,138,091 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Rachel Carson, June 1, 2006

By 

Professor Burke (CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Canary in the Courtroom: How Pesticide Poisoning Changed a Woman's Life and Forced Her into Civil Action (Paperback)

Canary in the Courtroom is a book that is hard to put down. Ms. MacLeod has separated fact from fiction and exposed holes in several programs designed to protect the public from harmful chemicals. The book is a treatise on how individuals are lead to believe in the safety of chemicals and how one person fought for the truth to be told. For the sake of future generations health, lets hope we can learn through Ms. MacLeods ordeal! Rachel Carson would be deeply distressed to think pesticide poisoning is continuing on the human level.

5.0 out of 5 stars Courage from the Canary, June 16, 2006

By 

Natalie Dian - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Canary in the Courtroom: How Pesticide Poisoning Changed a Woman's Life and Forced Her into Civil Action (Paperback)

This book is one that you know you should read, but are a little afraid of the awareness you might gain from it. After all, life can be little more complicated when we actually have knowledge about the unseen dangers in our every day life. Jessie McLeod makes it easy, she did the research and then presents her well written experiences in a way that keeps you reading to the end. What you get is not only new knowledge, but hope. This is one of those books that gives you courage to live up to your values. This author sure has!

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read book, May 31, 2006

By 

Beth Rodda (Angwin, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Canary in the Courtroom: How Pesticide Poisoning Changed a Woman's Life and Forced Her into Civil Action (Paperback)

This book has a few problems with repetition in the beginning as the author justifies writing an autobiography in third person. Once you get into the courtroom scenes, though, you are hooked. This story is all the more riveting because it is true. This well-written book will make you cheer for "the little guy" (or gal in this case) and then make you run to your cupboards to start reading labels.

Buy it. Read it. You won't regret it.