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The film “Erin Brockovich” directed by Steven Soderbergh was released in 2000. The film follows Erin Brockovich, played by Julia Roberts, on a mission to save a small town by bringing down PG&E. The inhabitants of the town have had a high rate of various cancers, tumors, headaches and chronic nosebleeds. What started as a small real estate battle ends in a $333 million lawsuit.

Erin hires Ed Masry to represent her after she was in a car accident. She loses the case and then demands Ed hire her because he had promised her she would get money. As a single mother of three Erin needs the job and Ed gives in and hires her. Erin is asked to organize and file paperwork from a real estate case where PG&E was trying to buy a family’s home to put in an exit from a highway that was soon to be built. This paperwork included some medical records. Erin is confused by this and goes to visit the Jensen family. She learns that PG&E paid for the entire family to receive checkups and have some blood work done to check chromium levels.

After doing some digging Erin finds that there are many different types of chromium, only one being harmful. She learns that this type of chromium is an anti corrosive and is put in the water used to cool machinery. The water is then put into pools next to the factory. If properly lined there is little danger to the surrounding community. Erin sees a link between the high cancer incidence in the town and the use of this harmful chemical at PG%E.

Interviews with all the residents of the town follow. Everyone finds it very interesting that their diseases can be explained by one factor, chromium. Ed Masry is resistant to expand the case to all the families. He wants another firm to partner with so they will have more funds available. Finally a lawyer agrees to partner up on the case. Erin is still going door to door asking questions and getting information from each resident.

The investigation has been going on for over 18 months when Erin meets Charles. Charles cousin died and he decided to come forward with information. He had seen his cousin cleaning machinery at PG&E with a mask covered in blood from his chronic nose bleeds. He remembered being asked to destroy some documents and memos at PG&E. He then says he was “a bad employee.” Charles had kept the documents and gives them to Erin.

The documents are from the headquarters saying that the high levels of chromium found should not be discussed or disclosed to the public. PG&E had told residents non-harmful chromium-3 was in their water and that it could even improve help. No one thought anything of this information. The case did not go to court but was seen by a judge. The judge gave the 634 plaintiffs $333 million, $5 million of which was for the Jensen family.

The film did a good job of showing how much money, time and energy goes into a case like this. The flirtation between Erin and her neighbor George was not needed for the plot line, but did give her a more human quality. It shows that one person can make a difference and bring a company to its knees. Erin believed in her cause and that was all she needed to push on. She got to really know the families that had been affected and understand what they were going through. Ed Masry started a new firm where he and Erin continued working together.