The
story of Erin Brockovich-Ellis' legal battle against the Pacific Gas and Electric
Company for contaminating the water supply of Hinkley, California is depicted
in the Academy Award winning 2000 Film, Erin Brockovich, starring Julia
Roberts. Despite the fact that she was only a legal clerk with no formal law school
education, Erin Brockovich was able to build a case against the corporation that
resulted in a settlement of $333 million -- the largest settlement ever paid in
a direct action lawsuit in US history. The highly publicized case and the Hollywood
movie have brought international attention to forcing corporations to be held
accountable for environmental contamination. Since that case, Erin Brockovich
has been involved in a number of other similar cases. She is also a frequent environmental
and motivational speaker, and has received numerous awards and honors for her
work in protecting the environment and public safety.
