Erin Brockovich

Erin Brockovich is an unforgettable movie. Based on a true story, it follows a woman named Erin Brockovich. She is a single mother with three children. She is unemployed and has about $17 in her bank account. In the beginning of the movie, she gets into a car accident. She meets her lawyer, Ed Masry, suing the doctor she collided with. He gives her a job in his office. While working, she discovers files on Pacific Gas and Electric offering to buy homes of residents of Hinkley, California, Erin’s town. She dives into the case. With the help of Ed, she investigates, discovering that PG&E has been polluting Hinkley’s water with Chromium 6, an extremely dangerous chemical that has been affecting Erin’s community. People have symptoms from nose bleeds to cancer. Throughout the movie, Erin is shown struggling with the case along with her own personal life. However, even though it is difficult, she keeps fighting for the health of her fellow Hinkley residents. Erin holds a meeting for the victims, which are the plaintiffs in this case. They were complaining because they needed money for their medical bills. Later on at a bar, Erin sees a man she recognized from the meeting. He told her about files he destroyed at PG&E. She then finds a document that says PG&E knew their water was contaminated with chromium 6, but kept in a secret from the Hinkley residents. She brings this to court, and once the judge sees this (without a jury), PG&E is ordered to pay $333 million, divided amongst the 648 plaintiffs. This was the largest settlement ever paid in a direct-action lawsuit in American history. Erin Brockovich received $5 million, and Ed receives 40%. Many corporations today have to be very responsible. They need to take the health of human beings, wildlife, and the environment into concern. The movement toward including ethics as an important part in management began in the 1970s and has continued growing. Companies need to not only worry about their own personal gain,