Jump to content

Erin Brockovich

From Alfawiki
Erin Brockovich
Born
Erin Pattee

(1960-06-22) June 22, 1960 (age 66)
Lawrence, Kansas, U.S.
Occupation(s)Paralegal, consumer rights advocate, environmental campaigner, television host, consultant, author
Years active1993–present
Known forLegal case against Pacific Gas & Electric Company regarding groundwater pollution in Hinkley, California

Erin Brockovich (born Pattee; June 22, 1960) is an American paralegal, consumer rights advocate, and environmental campaigner renowned for her involvement in assembling a legal case against Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) concerning groundwater pollution in Hinkley, California during 1993 on behalf of attorney Ed Masry. Their victorious litigation inspired the acclaimed film Erin Brockovich (2000), featuring Julia Roberts.

Since then, Brockovich has gained recognition as a television host, leading programs such as Challenge America with Erin Brockovich on ABC and Final Justice on Zone Reality. She presides over Brockovich Research & Consulting and acts as a consultant for the New York-based law firm Weitz & Luxenberg, focusing on personal injury cases tied to asbestos exposure, as well as consulting for Australia's Shine Lawyers. Previously, she provided consultancy services to the now-defunct California firm Girardi & Keese.

Early life

Born Erin Pattee in Lawrence, Kansas, she is the daughter of Betty Jo (née O'Neal; 1923–2008), a journalist, and Frank Pattee (1924–2011), an industrial engineer and former football player. Her siblings include two brothers, Frank Jr. and Thomas (1954–1992), and a sister named Jodie. She completed her studies at Lawrence High School, attended Kansas State University located in Manhattan, Kansas, and earned an Associate degree in Applied Arts from Wade College in Dallas, Texas.

Pacific Gas & Electric litigation

In 1993, Brockovich uncovered extensive health issues affecting residents of Hinkley, California, which led to significant litigation against the utility company PG&E. Serving as a legal assistant at Masry & Vititoe, she played a key role in supporting local plaintiffs suing PG&E over groundwater polluted by hexavalent chromium (chromium 6). The case focused on contamination originating from the Hinkley compressor station, where between 1952 and 1966 PG&E discharged chromium-containing wastewater into unlined ponds, resulting in pollution of approximately of groundwater.

Regulatory oversight by the Regional Water Quality Control Board began in 1968. The lawsuit (Anderson, et al. v. Pacific Gas & Electric, file BCV 00300) concluded with a settlement of $333 million in 1996—marking the largest direct-action settlement in U.S. history at that time. From this amount, the law firm received $133.6 million, while Brockovich was awarded $2.5 million as part of her compensation.

Other litigation

Collaborating with attorney Edward L. Masry from Thousand Oaks, California, Brockovich participated in several environmental lawsuits targeting pollution. One such case challenged the Whitman Corporation over chromium contamination issues in Willits, California. Another involved approximately 1,200 plaintiffs alleging pollution near PG&E's Kettleman Hills compressor station in Kings County, California, located along the same pipeline corridor as Hinkley. This matter settled for $335 million in 2006.

In 2003, after experiencing mold contamination at her residence in the Conejo Valley, Brockovich secured $430,000 from two defendants and an undisclosed amount from a third party to resolve her toxic mold claim filed in Agoura Hills, California. Following this, she emerged as a leading advocate and educator on mold-related health concerns.

That same year, Brockovich and Masry filed suit against the Beverly Hills Unified School District, alleging that oil wells on school grounds posed cancer risks to students. The claim referenced about 300 cancer cases linked to these wells; however, subsequent testing and investigations found no credible connection. The court ruled against them through summary judgment, and by 2007 the district recovered $450,000 to cover legal fees.

In April 2009, Brockovich assisted in initiating legal action against Prime Tanning Corp., based in St. Joseph, Missouri, accusing it of disposing leather processing waste containing hexavalent chromium as fertilizer near Cameron, Missouri, potentially causing a cluster of brain tumors. Prior investigations by the EPA found no chromium presence and epidemiological reviews reported no unusual tumor incidence.

By June 2009, Brockovich investigated hexavalent chromium contamination affecting water supplies for over 40 homes in Midland, Texas; state authorities installed filtration systems monitored by officials. She highlighted that contamination levels there exceeded those previously recorded at Hinkley.

In 2012, she examined unexplained symptoms among 14 students in LeRoy, New York, suspecting pollution linked to the 1970 Lehigh Valley Railroad derailment. Environmental testing revealed no contaminants; medical experts attributed symptoms to mass psychogenic illness amplified by media coverage.

In early 2016, Brockovich became involved with potential legal proceedings concerning the Aliso Canyon gas leak, a significant methane emission event near Porter Ranch, north of Los Angeles.

Following the February 3, 2023 East Palestine derailment in Ohio, Brockovich promptly responded to community concerns about toxic chemical fires. She appeared on various media platforms and traveled to East Palestine for town hall discussions held on February 24. There she and an attorney presented comprehensive data documenting decades of hazardous chemical train derailments. Brockovich voiced apprehensions regarding groundwater pollution after reports indicated onsite chemical dumping and burning.

Her ongoing criticism underscores persistent failures to fund infrastructure upgrades and enforce environmental protections—citing incidents such as Hinkley, the Flint water crisis, and the 2013 Lac-Mégantic oil train disaster as examples of systemic disregard prioritizing financial interests over public health and environmental safety.

Awards

Movies and television

The legal case Brockovich pursued against Pacific Gas & Electric was the basis for the 2000 motion picture Erin Brockovich, featuring Julia Roberts. The film secured five nominations at the Academy Awards, with Roberts winning for Best Actress. Brockovich herself made a brief cameo appearance.

In 2012, she played a significant role in the documentary Last Call at the Oasis, which explores issues related to water contamination and shortages influenced by U.S. water policies.

ABC launched the series Rebel on April 8, 2021. This show, created by Krista Vernoff, draws inspiration from Brockovich's life story.

Books and articles

Brockovich authored her debut book, Take It from Me: Life's a Struggle But You Can Win in 2001, followed by Superman's Not Coming released in August 2020.

In 2021, she emphasized the detrimental effects of hormone-disrupting substances such as PFAS on human reproductive health.

On February 8, 2022, Brockovich discussed attorney Steven Donziger’s legal struggles with Chevron after securing an $18 billion verdict but later facing imprisonment for contempt.

On July 30, 2024, she published an opinion piece in The New York Times cautioning that the Supreme Court ruling in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo diminishes regulatory bodies' capacity to safeguard public health from threats including PFAS pollution. She warned that this decision undermines long-established Environmental Protection Agency rules supported by Chevron deference. Additionally, Brockovich criticized Project 2025 and expressed concern that a potential Donald Trump win in the 2024 presidential election might endanger American health by empowering corporations and local governments to contest or disregard environmental safeguards.

Personal life

Brockovich is a mother of three children: Matthew and Katie from her first marriage to Shawn Brown, and Elizabeth from her second marriage to Steven Brockovich. Her third spouse was DJ Eric L. Ellis, an actor and country music artist. As of 2016, she lives in Agoura Hills, California, in a residence purchased in 1996 using the $2.5 million settlement bonus from the Hinkley case. Brockovich has dyslexia.

See also

External links

Retrieved from "https://www.alfawiki.org/index.php?title=Erin_Brockovich&oldid=13649"