Erinbrockovich

Erin Brockovich

By mariquela_c
  • Ed Masry gives Erin a job in the firm Masry & Vititoe.

    Ed Masry gives Erin a job in the firm Masry & Vititoe.

  • Erin is given files for a real-estate case where Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) is offering to purchase the home of Hinkley, California, resident Donna Jensen. Erin starts to investigate.

    Erin is given files for a real-estate case where Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) is offering to purchase the home of Hinkley, California, resident Donna Jensen. Erin starts to investigate.

  • Erin is surprised because of the medical records and visits Donna.

    Erin is surprised because of the medical records and visits Donna.

    Donna explains that her family has had several health problems and that PG&E paid for the doctors. Erin asks why they would do that, and Donna replies, "because of the chromium".
  • Erin begins digging into the case.

    Erin begins digging into the case.

    Erin finds evidence that the groundwater in Hinkley is contaminated with carcinogenic hexavalent chromium, but PG&E has been telling Hinkley residents that they use a safer form of chromium.
  • Erin meets with a toxicologist.

    Erin meets with a toxicologist.

    The expert gave her a list of problems that came from hexavalent chromium exposure.
  • Erin searches for information in the Lahontan Regional Water Board.

    Erin searches for information in the Lahontan Regional Water Board.

    She finds in the records a cleanup and abatement order that says that the water of Hinkley is polluted with hexavalent Chromium. This incriminates the corporation.
  • Erin losses her job

    Erin losses her job

  • Masry looks for Erin again.

    Masry looks for Erin again.

    Ed Masry gives Erin her job back after receiving a note from a professor from UCLA. She continues with her investigation and informs Donna about her findings. Other people start to get involved.
  • PG&E's Claims Department contact the firm.

    PG&E's Claims Department contact the firm.

    The Corporation takes notice of the work Erin has been doing. She convinces Ed Masry that people deserve more.
  • Erin starts to visit people from the community.

    Erin starts to visit people from the community.

    She arranges a meeting with some of them and the lawyer, and they agree to be represented by the firm.
  • She gathers evidence for the trial.

    She gathers evidence for the trial.

  • Erin is threatened.

    Erin is threatened.

  • A judge decides that the case should go to trial.

    A judge decides that the case should go to trial.

    A major firm gets involved and Kurt Potter finances the expenses of the case.
  • Ed Masry takes the opportunity to arrange for disposition by binding arbitration.

    Ed Masry takes the opportunity to arrange for disposition by binding arbitration.

    Binding arbitration is the process by which the parties to a dispute submit their differences to the judgment of an impartial person or group appointed by mutual consent or statutory provision.
  • Erin persuades all 634 plaintiffs to go along with binding arbitration.

    Erin persuades all 634 plaintiffs to go along with binding arbitration.

  • A man tells her he was tasked with destroying documents at PG&E.

    A man tells her he was tasked with destroying documents at PG&E.

    The man noticed the medical conditions plaguing the workers and kept the documents instead of destroying them. He then gives the documents to her. A 1966 memo proves corporate headquarters knew the water was contaminated with hexavalent chromium, did nothing about it, and advised the Hinkley operation to keep this secret.
  • Erin and Ed Masry win the case.

    Erin and Ed Masry win the case.

    The judge orders PG&E to pay a settlement amount of $333 million to be distributed among the plaintiffs.