Erin Brockovich

The movie Erin Brockovich is a true story about a single, unemployed mother that is trying to find a job. In light of her loss in a lawsuit against a doctor, she convinces her lawyer, Ed Masery, to give her a job at his firm. Her unconventional dress code and less then refined manners makes it very difficult for many people at the office to take Erin seriously. However, she is able to change their minds quickly as she starts to investigate the suspicious real estate dealings of a local company, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG &E). Erin’s investigation uncovers the illegal dumping of deadly toxic waste hexavalent chromium, and the company quietly trying to purchase the land where the waste was dumped. Her involvement in the case eventually leads to a class action law suit against a multi-billion dollar company. Erin is faced with many ethical dilemmas while investigating the Pacific Gas & Electric Company. She tackles these issues with a “golden rule” train of thought. The do unto others as you would want done to you mentality can be seen when she first approaches Mr. Masery for a job. The office views her as vulgar and inappropriate based on her choice of words, dress code, and simple mannerisms. She is still able to persuade Mr. Mastery to give her a job by playing on his own ethics of right from wrong. Simply, everyone should get a chance, the same ideals that Erin shows throughout the investigation. Her values shine through as she visits each of the sick families to gather information. She puts her own self at risk entering into environment that presents clear health risks. I her direct dealings with these families, she treats them with kindness and respect. She relates to them on a personal level, being sure that each family is viewed as the individuals that they are and not just a mass group of people affected by a single incident. Her behavior toward these families is gravely different from the way that they have been treated by PG & E. This company put them all into one group and tried to get rid. PG &E thought that paying the families off would keep the chromium leak under wraps. During this time the company was unwilling to acknowledge the damage and even death that came to these families. Erin sacrificed many important things in her life like her children and her relationship. The investigation consumed her. She went above and beyond to get to the bottom of what PG & E was so desperately trying to cover up. When confronted about why she cared so much her response was simply, “it is the right thing to do”. Erin Brochovich was able to help take down one of the largest companies in the country. She was able to do so because of her own morals and values. Her need to take care of others they way she felt she should be taken care of was a large piece to her success. Her strong ethics not only helped her to give Ed Masry the information he needed to win the case, but also has allowed her to continue to help people overcome battles with major companies based on the simplicity of right from wrong.