Pg&E Erin Brokovich Case
True Story of Erin Brockovich
Anderson v. PG&E
[pic]
Michael Kelly
Business Law
Professor Chowdry Erin Brockovich is the story of a woman who helped 650 people in Hinkley California get justice for the actions of Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E.) The case was titled Anderson v. PG&E and was actually settled outside of court. It was settled in the Superior Court for the County of San Bernardino, Barstow Division. The parties agreed on a settlement of $333 million to be distributed to the named plaintiffs. It is difficult to find the exact facts, statements, and decision reasoning of the case because the information is not public record. The information has remained private. It all started in 1952 when PG&E built a pumping station that spread over 20 acres in California that was used to pump natural gas through pipes to people across the state. They used a chemical called chromium XI to prevent the rusting of the pipes. The chemical runoff was disposed of in unlined wastewater ponds (Sharp, 2000). In 1987, during a routine check PG&E found that the chromium had leaked into the water supply and in December they reported their findings to the California Regional Water Quality Control Board. The board then ordered PG&E to clean up the pollution. In the early 1990’s, PG&E undertook at $12.5 million clean up effort. This effort included approaching the owners of three farms and ten houses (Sharp, 2000). For 15-20 years, people had been drinking, bathing, and swimming in water that had been polluted by the chemical chromium XI. Because of the exposure to this chemical many people began to experience physical ailments varying from small things such as bloody noses, to very serious conditions that include tumors and intestinal problems. After realizing that these conditions may have been caused by the chromium leak from PG&E, the residents of Hinkley, California decided to file suit against the gas and electric company. 36
Anderson v. PG&E
[pic]
Michael Kelly
Business Law
Professor Chowdry Erin Brockovich is the story of a woman who helped 650 people in Hinkley California get justice for the actions of Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E.) The case was titled Anderson v. PG&E and was actually settled outside of court. It was settled in the Superior Court for the County of San Bernardino, Barstow Division. The parties agreed on a settlement of $333 million to be distributed to the named plaintiffs. It is difficult to find the exact facts, statements, and decision reasoning of the case because the information is not public record. The information has remained private. It all started in 1952 when PG&E built a pumping station that spread over 20 acres in California that was used to pump natural gas through pipes to people across the state. They used a chemical called chromium XI to prevent the rusting of the pipes. The chemical runoff was disposed of in unlined wastewater ponds (Sharp, 2000). In 1987, during a routine check PG&E found that the chromium had leaked into the water supply and in December they reported their findings to the California Regional Water Quality Control Board. The board then ordered PG&E to clean up the pollution. In the early 1990’s, PG&E undertook at $12.5 million clean up effort. This effort included approaching the owners of three farms and ten houses (Sharp, 2000). For 15-20 years, people had been drinking, bathing, and swimming in water that had been polluted by the chemical chromium XI. Because of the exposure to this chemical many people began to experience physical ailments varying from small things such as bloody noses, to very serious conditions that include tumors and intestinal problems. After realizing that these conditions may have been caused by the chromium leak from PG&E, the residents of Hinkley, California decided to file suit against the gas and electric company. 36
References: Bos, Carole D. Erin Brockovich: Anderson v. Pacific Gas & Electric. www.lawbuzz.com Miller, Roger LeRoy., & Jentz, Gaylord A. Business Law Today. 2006. Ohio: Mason Sharp, Kathleen. Erin Brockovich: The Real Story. 2000. www.salon.com