Erin Brockovich facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Erin Brockovich
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Brockovich in 2016
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| Born |
Erin Pattee
June 22, 1960 Lawrence, Kansas, US
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| Occupation | Consumer advocate |
| Spouse(s) |
Shawn Brown
(m. 1982; div. 1987)Steven Brockovich
(m. 1989; div. 1990)Eric L. Ellis
(m. 1998; div. 2012) |
| Children | 3 |
Erin Brockovich (born June 22, 1960) is an American paralegal, a person who helps lawyers. She is also a consumer advocate and an environmental activist. This means she stands up for people's rights and works to protect the environment.
In 1993, Erin was very important in building a legal case against the Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E). This company had polluted the groundwater in Hinkley, California. The successful lawsuit became famous. It was even made into an Oscar-nominated movie called Erin Brockovich (2000). In the movie, Julia Roberts played Erin Brockovich.
Since then, Erin Brockovich has become a well-known public figure. She has hosted TV shows and leads her own consulting company. She also works as a consultant for law firms. These firms help people who have been hurt by pollution or other issues.
Contents
Early life
Erin Pattee Brockovich was born in Lawrence, Kansas. Her mother, Betty Jo, was a journalist. Her father, Frank Pattee, was an engineer and a football player. Erin has two brothers and one sister.
She went to Lawrence High School. Then she studied at Kansas State University and Wade College. Erin has Dyslexia, which means she learns differently.
Fighting for clean water in Hinkley
In 1993, Erin Brockovich found out about many unexplained illnesses in Hinkley, California. She discovered that the PG&E company was polluting the town's drinking water. She became a "whistleblower," someone who exposes wrongdoing.
The lawsuit claimed that PG&E had contaminated the water with a chemical called hexavalent chromium. This chemical is also known as "chromium 6." PG&E used this chemical at its Hinkley compressor station. This station was part of a natural-gas pipeline.
Between 1952 and 1966, PG&E used hexavalent chromium to stop pipes from rusting. They dumped the waste water into unlined ponds. This dirty water then soaked into the groundwater. It affected an area of about 2 square miles (5 square kilometers) near the plant.
In 1996, the case was settled for $333 million. This was the largest settlement ever paid in a direct lawsuit in U.S. history at that time. Erin Brockovich received $2.5 million for her work on the case.
Even in 2019, the levels of chromium 6 in Hinkley's well water were still very high. They were sometimes 100 times higher than California's safe limit. PG&E claimed they had cleaned up 70% of the pollution by 2021. In 2022, the EPA said chromium 6 was likely to cause cancer if consumed in drinking water.
Other important cases
Erin Brockovich continued to work with lawyer Edward L. Masry on other anti-pollution lawsuits.
One lawsuit was against the Whitman Corporation. It was accused of chromium pollution in Willits, California. Another case involved 1,200 people. They claimed pollution near PG&E's Kettleman Hills station. This case settled for $335 million in 2006.
In 2003, Erin Brockovich had problems with toxic mold in her own home. She then became an activist and educator about toxic mold.
In 2009, Erin Brockovich helped with a lawsuit against Prime Tanning Corp. in St. Joseph, Missouri. The lawsuit claimed that waste from leather production, containing hexavalent chromium, was given to farmers as fertilizer. People believed this might be linked to a high number of brain tumors in the area.
In June 2009, Erin Brockovich began looking into contaminated water in Midland, Texas. High levels of hexavalent chromium were found in the water of over 40 homes. Erin said the levels there were even higher than what she saw in Hinkley.
In early 2016, Erin Brockovich got involved in a case about the Aliso Canyon gas leak. This was a huge methane leak from an underground storage facility. It happened near Porter Ranch, California.
In early 2023, a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. Erin Brockovich quickly started getting calls for help from the community. She spoke on the news and attended town hall meetings. She highlighted how chemical train derailments have happened for decades. Erin is worried about groundwater pollution from chemicals that were burned off. She believes that companies often put profits before people's safety. She continues to mention the Hinkley case and the Flint water crisis as examples.
Awards
- Honorary Doctor of Laws from Lewis & Clark Law School in 2005.
- Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Loyola Marymount University in 2007.
- Honorary Master of Arts, Business Communication, from Jones International University.
Movies and television
Erin Brockovich's work against PG&E was the main story for the 2000 movie Erin Brockovich. Julia Roberts played Erin in the movie. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards. Julia Roberts won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role. Erin Brockovich herself had a small appearance in the movie as a waitress.
In 2012, Erin Brockovich was in a documentary called Last Call at the Oasis. This film was about water pollution and how we manage water resources.
In 2021, a TV series called Rebel started on ABC. The show's creator said it was loosely based on Erin Brockovich's life.
Books and articles
Erin Brockovich's first book, Take It from Me: Life's a Struggle But You Can Win, was published in 2001. Her second book, Superman's Not Coming, came out in 2020.
In 2021, Erin Brockovich wrote about chemicals that affect hormones. She explained how these chemicals, like PFAS, are harming human fertility.
Personal life
Erin Brockovich has three children. Her son, Matthew, and daughter, Katie, are from her first marriage. Her daughter, Elizabeth, is from her second marriage. Her third husband was Eric L. Ellis. As of 2016, Erin Brockovich lives in Agoura Hills, California. She bought her house in 1996 with money she received from the Hinkley settlement.
See also
In Spanish: Erin Brockovich para niños
