erin brockovich
Erin Brockovich is an American legal clerk and environmental activist who became famous for her involvement in building a case against the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) of California in 1993. Her story became widely known after the release of the eponymous 2000 film, "Erin Brockovich," in which she was portrayed by Julia Roberts. The film dramatized her efforts to stop the pollution of the town of Hinkley's water supply by PG&E, which was linked to a series of illnesses among the town's residents.
Brockovich was a single mother of three working as a legal assistant in a small law firm when she stumbled upon medical records in real estate files at her office. This discovery led her to investigate further, and she found that the groundwater in Hinkley was contaminated with hexavalent chromium, a toxic substance used by PG&E in their cooling tower to prevent rust.
She gathered evidence and, together with her boss, Ed Masry, built a case representing more than 600 Hinkley residents against PG&E. The lawsuit resulted in a settlement of $333 million in 1996, the largest settlement ever paid in a direct-action lawsuit in U.S. history at that time.
Following the success of the lawsuit and the film, Brockovich has continued her environmental activism and has been involved in other anti-pollution lawsuits. She has also worked as a television host, author, and public speaker. Erin Brockovich has become a symbol of grassroots activism and perseverance in the fight against environmental wrongdoing.