Erin Brockovich is a prominent American environmental activist, consumer advocate, and paralegal who helped expose Pacific Gas & Electric Company’s (PG&E) groundwater pollution in the US. Hinkley, California in 1993.
She worked with attorney Ed Masry to file a lawsuit against PG&E, which resulted in a $333 million settlement for affected Hinkley residents.
Her story was made into a popular movie starring Julia Roberts, who won an Oscar for her role as Brockovich.
Brockovich continues to fight for environmental justice and consumer rights, working as a consultant for various law firms and hosting television shows.
File
- Full name: Erin Brockovich-Ellis
- Date of birth: June 22, 1960
- Age: 63 years old
- Female
- Place of birth: Lawrence, Kansas, USA
- Nationality: American
- Occupation: Environmental activist, consumer advocate, paralegal, consultant, author, television host
- Height: 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
- Parents: Frank Pattee (father), Betty Jo O’Neal-Pattee (mother)
- Siblings: Frank Pattee Jr. (brother), Thomas Pattee (brother), Jodie Knight (sister)
- Spouse: Shawn Brown (d. 1982; div. 1987), Steven Brockovich (d. 1989; div. 1990), Eric L. Ellis (d. 1999; div. 2012)
- Children: Matthew Brown (son), Katie Brown (daughter), Elizabeth Brockovich (daughter)
- Relationship status: single
- Net worth: $10 million
Early Life & Education
Erin Brockovich, currently 63 years old as of 2023, was born on June 22, 1960 in Lawrence, Kansas, USA
She is the youngest of four children of Frank Pattee, an industrial engineer and former football player, and Betty Jo O’Neal-Pattee, a journalist and photographer.
She grew up in a middle-class family and attended Lawrence High School, where she was a cheerleader and speech team member.
She graduated in 1978 and moved to Dallas, Texas, where she enrolled in Wade College, a vocational school that awarded degrees in applied arts. She studied fashion design and merchandising and graduated in 1980.
She then moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where she worked as a management intern for Kmart. She soon realized she was unhappy with her career choice and decided to pursue other opportunities.
Personal life
Erin Brockovich has been married and divorced three times. Her first marriage was to restaurant manager Shawn Brown in 1982.
They had two children, Matthew and Katie, before divorcing in 1987. Her second marriage was to Steven Brockovich, an electrical engineer, in 1989.
They had one daughter, Elizabeth, before divorcing in 1990. Her third marriage was to Eric L. Ellis, an actor, in 1999.
They divorced in 2012. Brockovich stated that she did not want to get married again and was happy being single. She lives in Agoura Hills, California with her three dogs.
Career
Erin Brockovich’s career as an environmental activist and consumer advocate began in 1991 when she was hired by Ed Masry, a lawyer who had represented her in a car accident case. records secretary.
She was assigned to handle a pro bono case involving the medical records of Hinkley, California residents who claimed their health problems were caused by groundwater contaminated by PG&E.
The utility operates a natural gas compressor station near town.
Brockovich was intrigued by the case and decided to investigate further. She discovered that PG&E used hexavalent chromium, a cancer-causing chemical, to prevent corrosion in their pipes.
They dumped wastewater into unlined ponds and leaked into the aquifer.
She also found that PG&E lied to residents about the safety of their water and that they manipulated test results to avoid liability.
She gathered evidence and testimony from residents and convinced Masry to file a class action lawsuit against PG&E for more than 600 plaintiffs.
The case was settled in 1996 for $333 million, the largest settlement ever paid in a straight lawsuit in United States history. Brockovich received a $2.5 million reward for his work in solving the case.
Brockovich’s story was brought to public attention through the 2000 film Erin Brockovich, directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Julia Roberts as Brockovich.
The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing $256 million worldwide and five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Roberts, who won Oscar for his role.
The film also made Brockovich a household name and a symbol of environmental justice and consumer rights. Brockovich herself appears in the film as a waitress named Julia.
After the film, Brockovich worked as a paralegal and consultant for various law firms, specializing in environmental and consumer cases.
She also became a public speaker, media personality and author. She has hosted several television shows, such as Final Justice with Erin Brockovich on Lifetime, Challenge America with Erin Brockovich on ABC, and Erin Brockovich: The Real Story on Reelz.
She has also written and co-written several books, such as Take It from Me: Life’s a Struggle, But You Can Win, Rock Bottom, Hot Water, and Superman’s Not Coming: Our National Water Crisis and What We the People Can Do About It.
She has also contributed articles and columns to various publications, such as The Huffington Post, The Guardian and The New York Times.
Brockovich has been involved in many high-profile environmental and consumer cases, such as the chromium contamination case in Midland, Texas; MTBE contamination in South Lake Tahoe, California; toxic mold exposure at Beverly Hills, California High School; water pollution in Hinckley, England; oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico; coal ash spill in Kingston, Tennessee; lead pollution in Flint, Michigan; and PFAS contamination in Parkersburg, West Virginia.
She also advocates for the rights of veterans, workers and consumers harmed by asbestos, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and other products.
She has been recognized for her work with various awards and honors, such as the Presidential Award of the American Judicial Association, Honorary Doctor of Laws from Lewis and Clark Law School, Honorary Doctor of Humanitarian Letter from Loyola Marymount University, and Women of the Year Award from Glamor Magazine.
Net value
Erin Brockovich has an estimated net worth of $10 million. She has earned her wealth from her work as a legal assistant, consultant, speaker, media personality, and an author.
She has also received royalties from the film Erin Brockovich and her books.
Argumentative
Erin Brockovich has faced some controversy and criticism for her work and views. Some critics have accused her of being a self-promoter, a sensationalist, a fear monger and a pseudo-scientist. They also questioned her credentials, methods, motives and accuracy.
Some controversial cases include:
Chromium contamination in Hinkley, California: Some scientists and regulators have argued that chromium levels in groundwater are not high enough to cause cancer or other health problems and that the solution is based on Scientific exaggeration and miscommunication.
They also claim that Brockovich exaggerated the number and severity of people’s illnesses and that some plaintiffs were not even exposed to contaminated water. They also pointed out that cancer rates in Hinkley did not increase after the settlement and that some residents who left the town returned or regretted leaving.
Beverly Hills, California, Toxic Mold Exposure Case: Brockovich and Masry filed a lawsuit in 2003 on behalf of more than 1,000 former students and employees of the school who claimed they had cancer. cancer and other illnesses caused by exposure to toxic mold. and oil wells on school grounds.
Social Media
- Instagram handle: @the_real_erin_brockovich
- Twitter name: @erinbrockovich
Book
- Take it from me: Life is a struggle but you can win
- Bottoming
- Hot water
