Brockovich, Erin (1960–)

When erin elizabeth pattee was growing up in Kansas, she seemed an unlikely prospect for becoming a high-profile advocate for victims of industrial poisoning. She suffered from a learning disability, panic attacks, anorexia, and low selfesteem. Nevertheless, she developed the strong sense of right and wrong that gave her the motivation to become the voice for silenced and exploited victims. In 1991, as a broke, divorced parent recovering from an automobile accident, Brockovich became a receptionist in the law office of Masry and Vititoe in Westlake Village, CA.

By chance, she was asked to open a file on a pro bono real estate case involving Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). Brockovich noticed that the file contained the result of blood tests performed on residents of Hinkley, California, and asked permission to pursue the case. This move changed her life.

As Erin Brockovich pursued the story behind mysterious illnesses in Hinkley, she discovered that PG&E had released more than 370 million gallons of Chromium VI in the water of Hinkley over a 30year period. Studies have shown that repeated exposure to high levels of Chromium VI may cause headaches and nosebleeds. Acute toxicity from Chromium VI may also lead to allergic contact dermatitis, skin ulcers, nasal rhinitis, liver damage, edema, nephritis, and various pulmonary conditions and cancers.

In 1962, the Public Health Service established a cap of 50 UG/L in drinking water. By 1975, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had mandated that cap through the National Interim Primary Drinking Water Regulations. The samples that Brockovich took from Hinkley contained Chromium VI at 10 times the acceptable level. In 1976, Congress passed the Resource Conservation [Page 168]and Recovery Act (PL 94–580), which provided the EPA with the authority to identify hazardous wastes such as those containing chromium and to establish standards for generating and transporting hazardous materials.

Residents of Hinkley had not only drunk the chromium-polluted water; they had also swam and bathed in it and irrigated their crops with it. As a result, they suffered from the classic symptoms of chromium poisoning. Brochovich's lack of professional position and authority allowed her to become friends with the residents of the small town and win their trust. Using unorthodox methods, she also gained access to files that irrevocably incriminated PG&E in the contamination.

When 634 residents of Hinkley hired Masry and Vititoe to handle their suit against PG&E, the law firm paid Brochovich's friend, George Halibee, to serve as her nanny so that she could devote more time to the case. Ultimately, Erin Brockovich and Ed Masry were able to assemble such overwhelming evidence against PG&E that after four years of arbitration, the company agreed to pay $333 million to the victims. It was the largest settlement in a direct lawsuit in American history. Masry and Vititoe paid Brockovich a bonus of $2.5 million for her work on the case.

In 2000, Steven Soderbergh brought Brockovich's story to the public in the motion picture Erin Brockovich, with Julia Roberts in the title role. Brockovich was paid $30,000 for the rights to her life story, and Roberts won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of the blowsy, feisty Brockovich. She has continued to serve as an environmental activist in her position as director of environmental research at Masry and Vititoe. In 2001, Brockovich published the inspirational New York Times best-seller, Take It from Me: Life's a Struggle, but You Can Win. Brockovich also hosts Final Justice for Lifetime Television.

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