who was the real lawyer in erin brockavich

by Celine Hilpert II 9 min read

Tom Girardi

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Who was Tom Girardi in Erin Brockovich?

Girardi was about as famous as a lawyer can get in post-O. J. America. He was one of the lawyers brought in by Ed Masry and Erin Brockovich to help sue Pacific Gas & Electric on behalf of the residents of Hinkley, California. (A composite of him and another lawyer, Walter Lack, appears in the movie).

What happened to Erin Brockovich lawyer?

Edward L. Masry, a flamboyantly pugnacious lawyer who won millions from a utility in a toxic pollution suit and was portrayed by the actor Albert Finney in the 2000 movie "Erin Brockovich," died on Monday at a hospital in Thousand Oaks, Calif. He was 73.

What did Thomas Girardi do?

In 1970, Girardi became the first attorney in the state of California to win a $1 million-plus award for a medical malpractice case.

What lawyer did Erin Brockovich work with?

Edward L. MasryWorking with Edward L. Masry, a lawyer based in Thousand Oaks, California, Brockovich went on to participate in other anti-pollution lawsuits.

How much did Tom Girardi make from Erin Brockovich?

His famous case against Pacific Gas & Electric was the inspiration for the movie Erin Brockovich, and awarded $333 million to 650 residents in Hinkley, CA.

Who is Ed Masry based on?

Ed Masry, the flamboyant, crusading environmental lawyer portrayed by actor Albert Finney in the movie “Erin Brockovich,” which was based on Masry's landmark $333-million settlement against Pacific Gas & Electric Co. for groundwater contamination in California's high desert, has died. He was 73.

How much is Erika Jaynes net worth?

$5 millionwhat is Erika Jayne's net worth? Well, according to Celebrity Net Worth, Erika is worth $5 million, which is impressive on its own but just a fraction of how much Tom was worth before a judge froze his assets.

How much is Sutton worth?

Sutton Stracke Net WorthNet Worth:$50 MillionDate of Birth:Sep 20, 1971 (50 years old)Place of Birth:Augusta, Georgia, U.S.Profession:Television personality

How long was Tom Girardi stealing?

Nonetheless, the public is finding this hard to believe since it's been confirmed that he has been stealing from his clients for at least 10 years. In recent court documents obtained by PEOPLE, Tom's former law firm, Girardi & Keese, is $101 million in debt.

Where is Tom Girardi now?

Girardi, 82, is currently residing at an assisted-living and memory care facility in Burbank, Calif., after a late-onset Alzheimer's disease and dementia diagnosis. The disbarred lawyer has also been placed in a conservatorship that is overseen by his brother Robert.

Does Erin Brockovich still work for Ed Masry?

Brockovich, who still works for Masry as his research director, testified in the Van Nuys courtroom of Judge Stanley Weisberg that two key pieces of evidence offered by Cohen's lawyer did not strike her as sexual harassment.

How long was Tom Girardi stealing?

Nonetheless, the public is finding this hard to believe since it's been confirmed that he has been stealing from his clients for at least 10 years. In recent court documents obtained by PEOPLE, Tom's former law firm, Girardi & Keese, is $101 million in debt.

Are Erin Brockovich and George still together?

Erin and Jorge did break up, but he did not leave her life. He was hired as a full time live-in nanny for Erin's children for several years, paid for by the law firm so that she would have more time to devote to her work.

How much did Brockovich get paid for the case?

The case was settled in 1996 for US$ 333 million, the largest settlement ever paid in a direct-action lawsuit in United States history. Masry & Vititoe, the law firm for which Brockovich was a legal clerk, received $133.6 million of that settlement, and Brockovich herself received a settlement of $2 million.

What was Erin Brockovich's role in the movie?

Brockovich's work in bringing litigation against Pacific Gas & Electric was the focus of the 2000 feature film, Erin Brockovich, starring Julia Roberts in the title role. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards: Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Writing in a Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen. Roberts won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Erin Brockovich. Erin Brockovich herself had a cameo role as a waitress named Julia R.

Where is chromium found in water?

In June 2009, Brockovich began investigating a case of contaminated water in Midland, Texas. "Significant amounts" of hexavalent chromium were found in the water of more than 40 homes in the area, some of which have now been fitted with state-monitored filters on their water supply.

Where is Erin Brockovich from?

She has two brothers, Frank Jr. and Thomas (1954–1992), and a sister, Jodie. She graduated from Lawrence High School, then attended Kansas State University, in Manhattan , Kansas, and graduated with an Associate in Applied Arts Degree from Wade College in Dallas, Texas.

Why did PG&E use chromium?

Between 1952 and 1966, PG&E used hexavalent chromium in a cooling tower system to fight corrosion. The waste water was discharged to unlined ponds at the site, and some percolated into the groundwater, affecting an area near the plant of approximately 2 square miles (5.2 km 2 ).

Where was the prime tanning lawsuit filed?

Brockovich assisted in the filing of a lawsuit against Prime Tanning Corp. of St. Joseph, Missouri in April 2009. The lawsuit claims that waste sludge from the production of leather, containing high levels of hexavalent chromium, was distributed to farmers in northwest Missouri to use as fertilizer on their fields.

Who is the waitress in the documentary Last Call at the Oasis?

Erin Brockovich herself had a cameo role as a waitress named Julia R. Brockovich had a more extensive role in the 2012 documentary Last Call at the Oasis, which focused on not only water pollution but also the overall state of water scarcity as it relates to water policy in the United States.

Who is Tom Girardi?

Tom Girardi was the actual, real-life attorney who stepped in to help Erin Brockovich get justice for the residents of Hinkley, Calif. back in 1993. However, if you're looking for him in the movie, you won't find a guy named Girardi in the Julia Roberts film "Erin Brockovich." Instead, they turned the Girardi character into a fellow named Kurt Potter, played by Peter Coyote. However, Girardi was an advisor on the film and was closely involved with turning the true story into an Oscar-winning motion picture.

Who is Tom Girardi's wife?

The Truth About Tom Girardi's Connection To Erin Brockovich. The Bravo-verse was shocked when Erika Jayne not only announced that she and her husband, lawyer Tom Girardi, were divorcing after 21 years of marriage, but that Tom was also charged with stealing or misappropriating over $13 million in settlements meant for his clients.

What was the name of the company that used hexavalent chromium to protect the cooling tower?

Between 1952 and 1966, PG&E used hexavalent chromium to guard against corrosion in the cooling tower.

How much did Brockovich get from the settlement?

Brockovich’s attorneys received 133.6 million dollars from the settlement, while Brockovich herself received two million as a bonus. However, in the real story, Brockovich’s attorneys held onto her portion of the money for six months. They finally paid her portion after she threatened several lawsuits.

What is the real Erin Brockovich?

The real Erin was the youngest of four children born in Lawrence, Kansas. After earning an Associate degree in Applied Arts from Wade College in Dallas, Texas, she moved to California in 1982.

How much did the PG&E lawsuit cost?

PG&E settlement: When the case against PG&E settled in 1996 for $333 million, it was the largest settlement ever paid in a direct-action lawsuit in United States history.

Who was the actress in the 2000 movie "Against PG&E"?

Brockovich’s work against PG&E was the focus of the 2000 feature film, starring Julia Roberts. The film earned five Academy Award nominations, including Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Writing in a Screenplay. Roberts won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal ...

What happens if a company pollutes the air in Georgia?

In Georgia, as in other states, if a company or person degrades the environment by polluting the air or contaminating the water and people are harmed, that company can be held responsible for the damage caused as a result of their negligence.

How long does it take to clean up chromium?

However, a 2014 feasibility study conducted by PG&E, found that to clean up the majority of the chromium would take between 11 and 50 years to complete.

What is the tort of private nuisance?

In legal terms, people are protected under what’s known as the tort of private nuisance, which defends a person’s right to use and enjoy their own property. In the event that someone else interferes with this right, a person can take legal action against the other party.

What is personal injury?

Personal injury (e.g., a person has extensive medical bills as a result of the negligent actions of the company ) Property damage (e.g., lake or river now unusable, ditch through backyard widened into a huge gully, or smell is so bad the homeowner can’t sit out on their porch)

Who is Erin Brockovich?

Who the Real Erin Brockovich? In the 90s, a small town in Hinkley, California made headlines after it was discovered that something sinister was going on in the city. The people there had settled into their own way of life, but things in the town were quickly changing.

Who won the direct arbitration case against Pacific Gas and Electric?

Led by Erin Brockovich, who was just a simple law clerk at the time, a group of residents eventually got together and won a huge direct-arbitration against Pacific Gas and Electric. The courts found the company was liable for dumping the dangerous chemical. The settlement from the company was at that time, the largest payout on record ...

How many seasons did Erin Brockovich host Final Justice?

Then, for three seasons, Erin hosted the Lifetime series, “Final Justice With Erin Brockovich”. The show celebrated everyday women who triumphed when faced with overwhelming adversity.Erin Brockovich has conquered all forms of media….

Why did Erin Brockovich become a household name?

Over time, Erin realized that she could use her notoriety to spread positive messages of personal empowerment and to encourage others to stand up and make a difference.

What was Erin Brockovich's first TV show?

Her first TV project was ABC’s 2001 special “Challenge America With Erin Brockovich” where she helped motivate and organize the rebuilding of a dilapidated park in downtown Manhattan. This show is best described as “Extreme Make-Over Home Edition” on steroids.

Where does Erin Brockovich live?

Erin lives in Southern California with her husband, three children and 5 Pomeranians and admits to one guilty pleasure… shopping! When KMBC broke the story about a cluster of brain tumors in Cameron, it drew national attention. One of those taking notice was well-known environmental activist Erin Brockovich.

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Overview

Erin Brockovich (born Pattee; June 22, 1960) is an American legal clerk, consumer advocate, and environmental activist who, despite her lack of education in the law, was instrumental in building a case against Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) involving groundwater contamination in a town in California with the help of attorney Ed Masry in 1993. Their successful lawsuit w…

Early life

Brockovich was born Erin Pattee in Lawrence, Kansas, the daughter of Betty Jo (born O'Neal; c. 1923–2008), a journalist, and Frank Pattee (1924–2011), an industrial engineer and football player. She has two brothers, Frank Jr. and Thomas (1954–1992), and a sister, Jodie. She graduated from Lawrence High School, then attended Kansas State University, in Manhattan, Kansas, and graduated with an Associate in Applied Arts Degree from Wade College in Dallas, Texas.

Pacific Gas & Electric litigation

The case (Anderson, et al. v. Pacific Gas & Electric, file BCV 00300) alleged contamination of drinking water with hexavalent chromium (also written as "chromium VI", "Cr-VI" or "Cr-6") in the town of Hinkley, near Barstow in southern California. At the center of the case was a facility, the Hinkley compressor station, built in 1952 as a part of a natural-gas pipeline connecting to the San Francisco Bay Area. Between 1952 and 1966, PG&E used hexavalent chromium in a cooling tow…

Other litigation

Working with Edward L. Masry, a lawyer based in Thousand Oaks, California, Brockovich went on to participate in other anti-pollution lawsuits. One suit accused the Whitman Corporation of chromium contamination in Willits, California. Another, which listed 1,200 plaintiffs, alleged contamination near PG&E's Kettleman Hills compressor station in Kings County, California, along t…

Awards

• Honorary Doctor of Laws and commencement speaker at Lewis & Clark Law School, Portland, Oregon, in May 2005
• Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters and commencement speaker at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California, on May 5, 2007
• Honorary Master of Arts, Business Communication, from Jones International University, Centennial, Colorado

Movies and television

Brockovich's work in bringing litigation against Pacific Gas & Electric was the focus of the 2000 feature film, Erin Brockovich, starring Julia Roberts in the title role. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards: Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Writing in a Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen. Roberts won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Erin Brockovich. Erin Brockovich herself ha…

Books and articles

Brockovich's first book, Take It from Me: Life's a Struggle But You Can Win (ISBN 978-0071383790), was published in 2001. A second book, Superman's Not Coming, was released on August 25, 2020.
In 2021, Brockovich wrote about hormone-disrupting chemicals (such as PFAS) decimating human fertility at an alarming rate.

Personal life

Brockovich has three children: a son Matthew and a daughter Katie from her first marriage to Shawn Brown, and a daughter Elizabeth "Beth" from her second marriage to Steven Brockovich. Her third husband was an actor and country music DJ, Eric L. Ellis. As of 2016, Brockovich resides in Agoura Hills, California, in a house she purchased in 1996 with her US$2.5 million bonus after the Hinkley settlement.