who was the actual lawyer in movie dark waters

What is the movie Dark Waters about?

His story, one of an underdog lawyer who took on the chemical giant DuPont on behalf of people like Bailey, is now the subject of the new film " Dark Waters ."

Who are the companies named in the lawsuit against Dark Waters?

DuPont also questioned the veracity of unspecified events depicted in the Dark Waters film. The other companies named in the suit — the 3M Company, Dyneon, the Chemours Company, Archroma, Arkema, AGC, Daikin Industries and Solvay Specialty Polymers — did not respond to requests for comment.

Who is Robert Bilott in Dark Waters?

Mark Ruffalo plays corporate lawyer Robert Bilott in the 2019 movie, "Dark Waters." Twenty years later, people today are still fighting and still getting diagnosed with cancer, Bilott said. "It's being found in drinking water all over the country," Bilott said.

What does Mark Ruffalo say in Dark Waters?

“I can’t really worry about if the people on the other side like me or not.” Bilott used to be on the other side. The Todd Haynes-directed movie Dark Waters, now playing in theaters, tells the story of how the lawyer, played by Mark Ruffalo, switched allegiances.

How much did Robert Bilott make from DuPont?

His litigation efforts yielded more than $671 million dollars in damages for approximately 3,500 people. DuPont also settled with the EPA, agreeing to pay a mere $16.5 million fine for failure to disclose their findings about C8, a toxin that is now estimated to be present in 98 percent of the world's population.

Is Rob Bilott still suing DuPont?

Bilott is known for the lawsuits against DuPont on behalf of plaintiffs from West Virginia. Bilott has spent more than twenty years litigating hazardous dumping of the chemicals perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)....Robert BilottSpouse(s)Sarah Barlage ​ ( m. 1996)​Children35 more rows

Is Dark Waters a true story about DuPont?

Dark Waters mostly stays true to the real story "Dark Waters" is extremely accurate when compared to the true events, which makes it all the more upsetting. The script is based on the 2016 New York Times article "The Lawyer Who Became DuPont's Worst Nightmare," written by journalist Nathaniel Rich.

What is Robert Bilott doing now?

It wouldn't surprise anyone that a lawyer dogged as Bilott is continuing the same work. He remains at the same law firm he began at, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, having become a partner back in 1998.

Who does Robert Bilott work for?

Robert Bilott is a partner at the law firm Taft Stettinius & Hollister, LLP in Cincinnati, Ohio where he has practiced environmental law and litigation for more than twenty-eight years.

How much did Tennant get from DuPont?

In a follow-up case in 2017, he won a $671 million settlement on behalf of more than 3,500 plaintiffs in personal-injury claims against DuPont. And here's where the story could end, the hero with his fist aloft.

Is DuPont chemical still in business?

Yes, DuPont is still in business, although it has struggled slightly to survive independently from time to time due to its poor public reputation. On August 31st of 2017, E. I. Dupont de Nemours Company and the Dow Chemical Company merged as part of a $130 billion merger.

Did anyone go to jail from DuPont?

Du Pont died in prison while serving a sentence of thirty years for the murder of Dave Schultz. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Did Wilbur Tennant get a settlement?

Wilbur Tennant and his wife, Sandra, won a legal settlement from DuPont two years ago after they accused the company of sickening their family and killing their cattle by dumping C8 into a landfill near their farm.

Can I sue DuPont for C8 in my blood?

As a result, DuPont is now required to pay for medical monitoring (testing) recommended for class members by the independent C8 Medical Panel. Also, if you are diagnosed with one of the six C8 linked diseases, a claim (lawsuit) for compensation may be pursued on your behalf against DuPont.

Does DuPont still sell Teflon?

Teflon is made by Chemours, a chemical manufacturer that was spun out of DuPont in 2015....2017 Company Profile: Chemours.RevenuesProfits$6.2 Billion$746 MillionEmployeesTotal return to shareholders7,00060%*Apr 27, 2018

How did DuPont react to Dark Waters?

The company agreed to pay $671 million. DuPont isn't planning a big public-awareness campaign to tell its side of the story as a dark part of company history is dramatized on the big screen. “Unfortunately, in a situation like this, it just doesn't do you much good to fight it out in the public eye.

How much did Dupont pay for PFOA?

Since Bilott met with Tennant in 1998, DuPont has settled over 3,000 lawsuits related to the PFOA found in Parkersburg and paid out over $670 million without any admittance of wrongdoing.

Why did Wilbur Tennant ask Bilott for help?

Bilott first became aware of the issue when, in 1998, farmer Wilbur Tennant asked Bilott for help because his cattle were dying. Tennant suspected their deaths were related to the runoff from the DuPont chemical plant landfill near his property.

What did Bilott sue?

The lawsuit alleged that DuPont was dumping toxic chemicals and contaminating the water supply, killing dozens of Tennant's cattle.

What is PFOA in the news?

PFOA is a toxin ​that has been found to have a probable link to certain types of cancers and diseases. (MORE: Mark Ruffalo says new film is about 'one of the greatest cover-ups' in history) ABC News. Bucky Bailey, seen here during an interview for "Nightline," has endured over 40 reconstructive surgeries on his face.

How much did Dupont settle the lawsuit?

Without admitting wrongdoing, DuPont settled the class action lawsuit for $70 million, part of which funded a scientific study that eventually found a probable link between PFOA and diseases like testicular cancer, kidney cancer and thyroid disease -- a disease that Bucky Bailey's mother now suffers from.

What is the Hulk movie about?

The film is inspired by Bilott's real-life saga. The corporate attorney battled chemical giant DuPont over PFOA toxins, which West Virginia native Bucky Bailey and his family say impacted their lives. Mary Cybulski/Focus Features via AP. Mark Ruffalo, the man behind the Marvel superhero the Hulk, is taking a new battle to Capitol Hill: sounding ...

Why did Bailey drop out of the class action lawsuit?

Initially, Bailey was part of the class action lawsuit, but he dropped out after his birth defect couldn’t be ​definitively linked to the PFOAs. It hasn’t stopped him from becoming a fierce advocate. "I don't want money. I want peace of mind," Bailey said.

Storyline

A corporate defense attorney takes on an environmental lawsuit against a chemical company that exposes a lengthy history of pollution.

Did you know

DuPont's stock price dropped by 7.15 points from 72.18 to 65.03 the week this movie was released on 12th November.

What is PFOA in the movie?

He has discovered that PFOA is perfluorooctanoic acid, used to manufacture Teflon and used in American homes for nonstick pans.

How much is Dark Waters?

Language. English. Box office. $23.1 million. Dark Waters is a 2019 American legal thriller film directed by Todd Haynes and written by Mario Correa and Matthew Michael Carnahan. The story dramatizes Robert Bilott 's case against the chemical manufacturing corporation DuPont after they contaminated a town with unregulated chemicals.

What is the dark water?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Dark Waters is a 2019 American legal thriller film directed by Todd Haynes and written by Mario Correa and Matthew Michael Carnahan. The story dramatizes Robert Bilott 's case against the chemical manufacturing corporation DuPont after they contaminated a town with unregulated chemicals.

How much money has Dark Waters made?

Dark Waters has grossed more than $11.1 million in the United States and Canada, and $11.9 million in other countries, for a worldwide total of over $23.1 million.

What is the rating of Dark Waters?

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a "Fresh" approval rating of 89% based on 225 critic reviews, with an average rating of 7.33/10, and holds an approval rating from audiences of 95% . The website's critics consensus reads, " Dark Waters powerfully relays a real-life tale of infuriating malfeasance, honoring the victims and laying blame squarely at the feet of the perpetrators." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 73 out of 100, based on 38 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews." Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A–" on an A+ to F scale, while those at PostTrak gave it an average 3.5 out of 5 stars, with 60% saying they would definitely recommend it to a friend.

How many cows died in the Tennants?

Robert visits the Tennants' farm, where he learns that 190 cows have died with unusual medical conditions such as bloated organs, blackened teeth, and tumors.

Is PFOA regulated?

Since PFOA is not regulated, Robert's team argues that the corporation is liable, as the amount in the water was higher than the one part per billion deemed safe by DuPont's internal documents. In court, DuPont claims that the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection has found that 150 parts per billion is safe. The locals protest and the story becomes national news. DuPont agrees to settle for benefits valued at over $300 million. As DuPont is only required to carry out medical monitoring if scientists prove that PFOA causes the ailments, an independent scientific review is set up. To get data for it, Robert's team tells locals they can get their settlement money after donating blood. Nearly 70,000 people donate to the study.

What diseases did Dupont find?

In the end, they found a probable link between drinking PFOA and various illnesses, including kidney and testicular cancer, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, pre-eclampsia, and ulcerative colitis. The personal injury lawsuits that followed — by some 3,500 victims — cost Dupont $671.7 million.

What did the lawyer do against Dupont?

Over the following months, the lawyer drafted a public brief against DuPont. He demanded measures be taken to regulate PFOA and provide clean water to those living near their factory. In 2001, he sent a letter to the director of every relevant regulatory authority, which caused DuPont to respond by requesting a gag order in a bid to prevent him from disclosing his findings to the government. They were denied.

What did Dupont accuse the Tennant family of?

After selecting their own experts (who conveniently ignored the company’s use of PFOA) to investigate the site, DuPont accused the Tennant family of poor husbandry, which is just another way of saying they were mistreating their cattle. For a while, the accusation stuck and the family was ostracized in their town. Their neighbors refused to talk to them. They had to change churches several times. You get the idea.

How much did the Dupont lawsuit cost?

The personal injury lawsuits that followed — by some 3,500 victims — cost Dupont $671.7 million.

How much did Dupont pay for PFOA?

As such, DuPont paid $70 million as a result of the class-action case and funded scientific research to determine whether there was a direct link between the substance and health problems. Furthermore, the company agreed to pay for medical monitoring of the affected group.

Why did Dupont put a gag order on the company?

In 2001, he sent a letter to the director of every relevant regulatory authority, which caused DuPont to respond by requesting a gag order in a bid to prevent him from disclosing his findings to the government.

How long did the Bilott war last?

Bilott’s war against DuPont lasted almost 20 years, and while his victories proved to be financially rewarding for many people, his intentions were inspired by moralistic reasoning in an effort to make our planet a better place. His story should make for a very inspirational movie.

What did Jim Tennant sell for?

In the 1980s, Jim Tennant and his wife, Della, got an offer from DuPont. The local employer wanted to buy some of their property for a landfill for its Washington Works plant nearby, where it produces, among other things, Teflon, which contains the chemical C8. The Tennants were initially reluctant, especially because of its intended use, but DuPont promised it would house only nonhazardous waste, like scrap metal and ash, according to the Huffington Post . So, the couple sold about 60 acres to DuPont. And the money came in handy, too, since Jim, a Washington Works employee, had for years suffered from flu-like symptoms and illnesses that baffled doctors, as outlined in a Delaware Online article from 2016.

What did Bilott do for the Tennants?

"He was doing for the Tennants what he would have done for any of his corporate clients — pulling permits, studying land deeds and requesting from DuPont all documentation related to Dry Run Landfill — but he could find no evidence that explained what was happening to the cattle," the New York Times wrote.

How much PFOA was dumped in Dry Run?

According to the New York Times Magazine, "By 1990, DuPont had dumped 7,100 tons of PFOA sludge into Dry Run Landfill. DuPont's scientists understood that the landfill drained into the Tennants' remaining property, and they tested the water in Dry Run Creek. It contained an extraordinarily high concentration of PFOA. DuPont did not tell this to the Tennants at the time." Once this came to light, reports indicate, the Tennants settled their lawsuit against DuPont in August 2000, but the fight wasn't over.

What chemical did Ken Wamsley measure?

Ken Wamsley spent nearly 40 years working at DuPont Washington Works plant, and some of that time, he measured levels of the chemical C8 (PFOA). He told The Intercept in 2015 that it bubbled up out of glass containers and "was everywhere." Wamsley suffered from ulcerative colitis, a condition that can lead to rectal cancer, which, in his case it, did.

Why are PFASs so persistent?

"PFASs are extremely persistent in the environment primarily because the chemical bond between the carbon and fluorine atoms is extremely strong and stable, " according to the Environmental Protection Agency. During manufacturing processes, PFAS chemicals are released into the air, soil, and water around industrial facilities, the EPA reports. These chemicals are most harmful when ingested and consequently bioaccumulate, meaning they build up over time in the body (just as they build up in the environment).

What is the Madrid statement?

In May 2015, a consortium of scientists across many disciplines released a document called the Madrid Statement. The document, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, called on global scientists, manufacturers, and retailers to work together to limit the use of PFASs and develop safer alternatives.

Where did Dupont start?

The story started in Parkersburg, West Virginia, home to about 32,000 people and about a three-hour drive due east of Cincinnati. Much like many river cities, Parkersburg's history speaks of a working class, industrial heritage, which saw companies set up shop on the shores of the Ohio River, bringing jobs and economic stability. Around here, that economic engine was DuPont, known for innovations like nylon, Tyvek, and Teflon. DuPont established a presence along the Ohio River in 1948 with the Washington Works plant near Parkersburg. Today, that site is home to Chemours Washington Works, a spinoff of DuPont that employs more than 600 people and produces a variety of products used in construction, aerospace, and household goods.

Why did Kiger have a hysterectomy?

Six years after her first husband told her he couldn't bring his work clothes home because PFOA caused health problems for women and birth defects in children, Kiger had to have an emergency hysterectomy.

What diseases did Bill Pullman cause?

Medical examinations found that exposure to the chemical was linked to multiple diseases like testicular and kidney cancer, ulcerative colitis and thyroid disease. Bill Pullman plays Deitzler and spoke highly of his character at the Dark Waters premiere.

Why did Robbins play Dupont?

"The reason why I wanted to play this guy is because there are people out there who may not be ideologically aligned but still see the difference between right and wrong."

How did Camp learn about Tennant?

Camp learned some of Tennant's real-life traits from his brother and sister-in-law, since the farmer died in the midst of the cases against DuPont. "There were sides of him that I was really grateful to find out about — personal sort of traits of his that were really useful," Camp told Free Pix Mail at the premiere Nov. 13.

Who plays Bilott's wife in Dark Waters?

Anne Hathaway plays Bilott's wife, Sarah, whom he met through a co-worker at Taft. Focus Features' synopsis of Dark Waters states that taking on DuPont tested Bilott and Sarah's relationship.

Who was Phil Donnelly?

Phil Donnelly was an executive at DuPont as Bilott took on the company, and Victor Garber was more than happy to play the part.

Who played Robert Bilott in Dark Waters?

The 'Dark Waters' true story behind characters played by Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway and other stars in the environmental legal thriller directed by Todd Haynes. Dark Waters follows Robert Bilott's (Mark Ruffalo) real-life legal battle against DuPont over the release of a toxic chemical into Parkersburg, West Virginia's water supply, ...

Who played Robert Bilott's wife in David and Goliath?

Following the nearly 20-year-long investigation of former corporate defense attorney Robert Bilott, the film stars Mark Ruffalo as Bilott, Anne Hathaway as his wife Sarah, Tim Robbins as his boss Tom, as well as Victor Garber, Bill Camp, and William Jackson Harper, among others. A modern David and Goliath story, ...

Where is Luke Parker?

Luke Parker is an award-winning film critic and columnist based in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area. As an entertainment journalist, he has interviewed several members of the film industry and participated in some of its most prestigious events as a member of the press. Currently, he is working to obtain his bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication at Towson University. Follow Luke on Twitter @montyparker31

Who did Bilott work for?

Like in Dark Waters, Bilott began his post-school law career working on behalf of chemical companies for his employer, the Taft Stettinus & Hollister firm. During his time there, he would provide his clients with guidance on how best to comply with the "Superfund" law (or Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act) which, passed by Congress in 1980, regulated sites that were tainted by hazardous substances. So, at one time, Bilott did have a good, business relationship with companies like DuPont and some of their highest executives. It almost goes without saying that once the investigation began, as the film portrays, that relationship was quickly squashed – though the scene in which DuPont executive Phil Donnelly (Garbert) hisses " f*ck you, hick ," was invented.

Is Dark Waters accurate?

In addition to his personality, Dark Waters ' portrayal of the physical toll the decades-spanning legal battle took on Robert's health is also fairly accurate. As seen in the film, Billot did begin to experience strange symptoms in 2010 similar to the stroke-like attack Mark Ruffalo reenacts. In his memoir, Exposure: Poisoned Water, Corporate Greed, and One Lawyer's Twenty-Year Battle Against DuPont, Bilott says that after an MRI (which is shown in the movie), doctors could only really diagnose the issue as "unusual brain activity."

Is Dark Waters a true story?

Dark Waters follows the true story of Robert Bilott's uphill legal battle against the DuPont chemical company. But how much of it actually happened?

Did Wilbur get in trouble with Dupont?

As seen in Dark Waters, Wilbur's adamance did get him in trouble with DuPont. As it turns out, one of the film's more frightening sequences – in which the Tennant farm is being stalked by a low-riding helicopter until Wilbur scares it away with his rifle – did actually happen. As Robert explained in Exposure, DuPont sent a photographer to take aerial photos of the property as part of its legal defense, and when Wilbur came out with his gun, the company's lawyers reached out to the farmer and told him that the pilot was going to pursue the incident with federal authorities. That being said, though DuPont did conduct walkthroughs and searches of the Tennant's belongings, there was never any record that indicated Tennant's evidence had gone missing.

What was Bilott's job after law school?

In real life as in the film, Bilott’s earliest professional experiences after law school were working on behalf of chemical companies for his employer, Taft Stettinius & Hollister, providing the firm’s corporate clients with guidance on how best to comply with the so-called Superfund law passed by Congress in 1980 to regulate sites tainted with hazardous substances. As in the movie, he at first had a cozy relationship with DuPont, though some of the details of the relationship in the movie are invented. For example, the DuPont executive played by Victor Garber, “Phil Donnelly,” seems to be a composite, and the scene where he turns on Bilott, hissing at him, “Fuck you, hick,” appears to be invented.

Who plays Sarah Bilott in the movie?

Anne Hathaway as Sarah Bilott and the real-life Sarah Bilott. Photo illustration by Slate. Photos by Focus Features and EPK. Advertisement. Advertisement. The film’s portrayal of the physical toll that the excruciating, decadeslong legal battle against DuPont seems to have had on Bilott’s health is also accurate.

What chemical was in Lubeck water?

The Kiger family, teacher Joseph Kiger and his wife, Darlene, really did receive a cagey and curiously worded letter from the local Lubeck water district in October 2000 notifying them that an unregulated chemical named PFOA was present in their drinking water at ‘‘low concentrations.”.

When did Bilott get shot?

As Bilott details in Exposure, the April 23, 2001, incident was eventually confirmed between his legal team and DuPont’s. According to the book, DuPont had commissioned a photographer to take aerial photos of the property as part of its defense.

Did Wilbur Tennant shoot a helicopter?

Amazingly, the Pakula -esque paranoid thriller scene, in which Wilbur Tennant spots a low-level helicopter hovering ominously over his property, uses the scope of his hunting rifle to better examine the vehicle, and scares it off in the process, did in fact occur. As Bilott details in Exposure, the April 23, 2001, incident was eventually confirmed between his legal team and DuPont’s. According to the book, DuPont had commissioned a photographer to take aerial photos of the property as part of its defense. DuPont’s lawyers had a different perspective on the incident, however, writing in an email, “It is a federal offense to threaten violence against an aircraft carrying passengers” and “Please be advised that the helicopter pilot has indicated that he will pursue today’s incident with federal authorities.”

Who is Tom Terp?

Similarly, Bilott’s boss, Tom Terp (Tim Robbins), is not on the record as ever having threatened to cut Bilott’s balls off “and feed them to DuPont himself” if his subordinate were to ever again unilaterally send internal documents found via discovery to a federal regulatory agency or speak on his findings to Congress.

Is Dupont a federal offense?

DuPont’s lawyers had a different perspective on the incident, however, writing in an email, “It is a federal offense to threaten violence against an aircraft carrying passengers” and “Please be advised that the helicopter pilot has indicated that he will pursue today’s incident with federal authorities.”. Advertisement.

Is Bucky Bailey in Dark Waters?

Some of those extras in ‘Dark Waters’ have real-life ties to the film’s story. The real-life Bucky Bailey asks Mark Ruffalo as lawyer Rob Bilott for the score of a game in “Dark Waters.”. (Mary Cybulski / Focus Features/Focus Features) By Lisa Rosen. Jan. 1, 2020 7:30 AM PT.

When was Bucky's last shot?

Dec. 24, 2019. It so happened that his scene was the very last shot on the last day of filming. Says Haynes, “As is customary in these movies, we didn’t get to the scene until about 2 in the morning, and the whole crew was freezing-cold, as always, and we were feeling emotional and delicate — and then Bucky appears.

Did Dupont have facial deformities?

He was born with facial deformities, but DuPont never accepted responsibility — even though its own tests had showed the same birth defects in mice exposed to C8. He underwent 30 surgeries by the time he was 5, 17 more by age 16.

Who was the actor in Dark Waters?

Mark Ruffalo wades into ‘Dark Waters’ for a different kind of legal drama. Actor-producer Mark Ruffalo was taken by real-life lawyer Rob Bilott’s willingness to sacrifice in order to fight a corporate giant poisoning people. Dec. 24, 2019. Advertisement.

Is Dark Waters a real story?

Print. “Dark Waters,” the real-life David and Goliath story of lawyer Rob Bilott, who fought chemical giant DuPont over the dumping of toxic waste in its West Virginia community, spotlights a number of the people affected by the contamination. While doing so, the filmmakers also featured several of their real-life counterparts as extras.

Did Bailey turn over family pictures for the movie?

Bailey had provided background information to the production, even turning over family pictures for use in the film. So when he was asked if he wanted to participate, “I thought it would be kinda cool to be in a motion picture,” he says. “So I jumped in.”

Does the Los Angeles Times have promotional material?

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.

Overview

Plot

Cast

Production

Release

Reception

See also

External links