Erin Brockovich is an American who rose to fame for filing a case against Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)Company in California. Erin became recognized after she won the case, and it was settled in 1996 for $333 million, becoming the largest settlement ever paid in a direct-action lawsuit.
In 2000, the case was turned into a film, Erin Brockovich, where Erin was portrayed by Julia Roberts. Since then, Erin has been a famed personality in the United States. Even after winning the case, Erin has continued to work on other pollution lawsuits, making herself, recognized for her stand.
Early Life
Erin was born in 1960 in Lawrence, Kansas. Her mother Betty Jo was an American journalist while her father Frank Pattee was an industrial engineer. Erin grew up with two brothers and a sister and attended Lawrence High School.
After high school, she joined Kansas State University and later transferred to Wade College, in Dallas Texas. She received her Associate in Applied Arts Degree from Wade College.
Career and Fame
Brockovich initially was in the fashion industry, before she began being an activist. She worked at K-Mart and then entered a beauty pageant. After a few years, she began working as a legal clerk for lawyer Edward Masry in California.
In 1993, Brockovich began an investigation, regarding a cluster of illnesses that were becoming common among the residents of Hinkley, California.
Residents within two square miles of the Pacific Gas & Electric plant were falling ill at a high rate. As a result, Brockovich became so instrumental in organizing a case against PG & E. The company had built a compressor station in Hinkley, in 1952, and it was part of a natural gas pipeline.
PG&E used hexavalent chromium to fight corrosion in the station and then discharged the wastewater into ponds near the site. The wastewater found its way into groundwater, resulting in illnesses among residents within two square meters of the plant.
After the case was filed, it was settled in 1996 for $333 million, becoming the largest settlement in the history of the United States in a direct-action lawsuit. Brockovich’s work on the case was elaborated in a film named after her in 2000.
The film was nominated five times for Academy Awards, and Julia Roberts won the Best Actress Award, portraying Erin Brockovich.
Erin has continued to work on cases, majorly on anti-pollution lawsuits. One of the lawsuits again targeted PG&E for another of their compressor in California. The case was settled for $335 million in 2006.
Brockovich continues to work on cases linked to human illnesses, and her work has been recognized with many honorary degrees in legal fields, despite never attending any law school.
What is Erin Brockovich’s Net worth?
Erin Brockovich has a net worth of $10 million as of 2023. The legal clerk and environmental activist has accumulated her wealth through various cases she has won. She has won two notable cases against PG&E, where the cases won $336 million and $335 million. The legal activist has earned a commission from the cases, boosting her net worth.