Erin and her boss, Mr. Masry, were facing significant challenges with their massive case against PG&E (Pacific Gas & Electric), a billion dollar company. While conducting her investigation and gathering data for the case, Erin came across a file pertaining to one of the clients that caught her interest. She decided to further investigate it. Later on, she uncovered that the neighboring village of a PG&E factory had been experiencing water contamination as a result of PG&E’s operations. Through interviews with several residents, she discovered that most of them had fallen ill due to the contamination and that PG&E had hidden this information from them.
Erin Brockovich, the movie’s main character, is depicted as intelligent and strong-willed. Despite being a former beauty queen, she openly speaks her mind without hesitation. Erin maintains a fashionable appearance and fearlessly wears bold and revealing attire, regardless of public opinion. Her unwavering commitment to her family is limitless; she would go to great lengths to support them. Erin has been married twice in her lifetime, experiencing two divorces along the way. Furthermore, she is a mother of three children: Katie, Beth, and Matthew. Ed Masry serves as Erin’s boss at the law firm where she is employed.
Initially, Ed served as Erin’s lawyer in her Traffic Case. However, their efforts were unsuccessful due to Erin’s disruptive behavior in court. As a result, Erin held him accountable for their loss and blamed him for her financial struggles.
Upon their first encounter, Erin perceived Ed as a naive and simple-minded individual who seemed to find joy in life. Nevertheless, Ed is actually an intelligent man who lacks confidence in expressing himself.
In contrast, George is the man with whom Erin is romantically involved throughout the film. He takes care of her children while she works and is also a member of a motorcycle crew. George possesses a kind-hearted nature and shows unwavering devotion towards Erin.
Erin treats Erin and her children respectfully. Donna Jensen is the client involved in the case that initiated Erin’s investigation. Erin’s goal was to uncover the reasons behind PG&E’s interest in Donna’s family medical records and its connection to a house sale. Donna suffers from cancer due to chromium poisoning. She also has a husband with a disease and two children who she fears may develop illnesses as well. Donna is the first person Erin shares her victory in the case with. By the end of the movie, she receives $3 million as compensation for the harm inflicted upon her family by PG&E. Kurt Potter, another lawyer, joins Ed and Erin in representing the case.
Ed’s firm receives financial support from Charles Embry, who initially appears strange and unsettling. However, he gradually gains the trust of Ed and his team. In the beginning of the film, Charles meets Erin for the first time. Later on, they unexpectedly run into each other at a bar where Erin mistakenly thinks he is flirting with her. Surprisingly, it turns out that Charles plays a crucial role in solving the case. He reveals that he used to work at the Hinkley plant, specifically assigned to clean the cooling towers. Additionally, he was told to dispose of certain documents.
It seems that he preserved the documents containing evidence that the primary PG&E facility in San Francisco was aware of the situation at the Hinkley plant. He handed these documents over to Erin. The reason behind his action is the death of his cousin due to kidney tumors caused by chromium poisoning. Both PG&E and its plant engineer are attempting to conceal the information from the Hinkley residents regarding the usage of chromium 6 in their water supply. This element is poisonous and can lead to tumors in individuals who consume, digest, or inhale it, as well as affecting the surrounding environment.
On one hand, the Main office in San Francisco is working to protect the company by purchasing properties from residents living near the PG&E plantation in Hinkley. This is to prevent more residents from falling ill or being affected by the potential harm that chromium 6 may cause. Initially, Ed faced difficulties in handling the case due to lack of evidence and strong statements from his clients or plaintiffs. He also struggled with conducting research, finding it challenging to reach the level of expertise achieved by Erin.
Erin played a crucial role in the successful outcome of the case due to her possession of courage, knowledge, and confidence. These attributes were acquired through her dedication, commitment, and determination to gather statements, secure signatories from the plaintiffs, and collect sufficient evidence to establish a robust defense in court. Her approachable demeanor and passionate communication skills enabled her to build rapport with individuals involved in the case, even expressing empathy towards them, ultimately facilitating a greater understanding of their perspective.
Despite being aware of the dangerous toxins present in their plantation, PG&E neglected its corporate social responsibilities towards the community. The residents and animals residing in the vicinity have been exposed to these toxins for decades, leading to various illnesses and even fatalities. Had PG&E taken appropriate measures earlier, such as removing chromium 6 from the water and discontinuing its use in operations, they could have prevented significant financial losses incurred through lawsuits.
