STEVE
W. BERMAN
Turning a lifetime in the courtroom into compelling legal fiction about justice, power, and the people caught between them.
Poison
in the
System
A SAM SHARPSTEIN NOVEL
When powerful systems put lives at risk, one attorney refuses to look away. In Poison in the System, Sam Sharpstein takes on two explosive battles: communities facing poisoned groundwater in Oregon and an AI company accused of contributing to a devastating wrongful death. Inspired by the realities of corporate accountability, Steve W. Berman delivers a gripping legal thriller where technology, power, and justice collide.
About the Author
Steve W. Berman
Steve W. Berman is one of the nation’s most prominent plaintiffs’ attorneys, with a career defined by taking on powerful corporations and some of the most complex litigation in American history. Over the years, he has helped secure settlements valued at more than $340 billion, including landmark cases involving Big Tobacco, Volkswagen’s “Dieselgate” emissions scandal, and the NCAA name, image, and likeness litigation.
His work has taken him far beyond the traditional courtroom, from meeting clients in the Ecuadorian rainforest to deposing some of the world’s most influential corporate leaders. That experience has shaped the way he sees conflict, accountability, and the human stories behind major legal battles.
Jack Sharpstein
The Courtroom Firebrand
Twenty-eight, tall, rangy, and clean-shaven, Jack combines a polished courtroom appearance with a far more combustible personality. Instinctive and outspoken, he specializes in employment and misconduct cases and inherited both his father's sharp tongue and his ability to perform under pressure.
Maddy Sharpstein
The Methodical Force
Twenty-nine, dark-haired, and intensely focused, Maddy carries herself with a quiet determination that mirrors her approach to the law. A Stanford-trained attorney leading the firm's environmental practice, she is methodical, relentless, and exceptionally skilled at turning complex science into a case people can understand.
Sam Sharpstein
The Relentless Advocate
Sixty, lean, and distinguished by silver hair, Sam Sharpstein has the unmistakable presence of a veteran trial lawyer. Sharp-witted, stubborn, and relentless in preparation, he has spent decades taking on powerful opponents and fighting for people who cannot fight alone.
Hannah Sharpstein
The Voice of Reason
Intelligent, perceptive, and grounded, Hannah is far more than the person waiting for Sam at home. She works in the technology world and often challenges his arguments from a more corporate perspective, becoming one of his most trusted sounding boards. The novel also indicates that Maddy inherited Hannah's dark hair and Jack inherited her tall, rangy build.
Jim Soldano
The Steady Hand
Fifty-six and invariably polished, Jim favors immaculate suits and keeps his reading glasses close at hand. Where Sam is driven by instinct and impossible causes, Jim brings structure, practicality, and financial discipline to their partnership, making him the stabilizing force behind the firm.
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