When asked who my idol is, I usually name several. Marie Curie for instance – she was a brilliant mind and chemist, just like I hope to be someday. And then there’s Simone Biles, of course: a strong woman who is not only the GOAT of gymnastics, but also had the courage to stand up for herself and others, becoming one of the first to push mental health into the mainstream.
But when I mention Erin Brockovich, most people don’t actually know her, which is a shame since she played a major role in the largest payout form a direction-action lawsuit in U.S. history!
How a company poisened a town and almost got away with it
So what was the case actually about? Why was there water contamination in California in the first place? To answer that, let’s take a closer look at PG&E. This company pushes gas through pipelines form Texas to Northern California. And as you probably learned in physics, pushing anything creates friction — and friction reduces pressure.
To keep pressure stable, PG&E used compressors, including one right next to a little town called Hinkley. These compressors were cooled with a mix of oil and water. To prevent the pipes and compressors from rusting, chromium-6 was added to the water. A super cheap chemical and super efficient.
Okay, that sounds great, no?
No. Because this chemical is toxic, believed to be a carcinogen, and you definitely don’t want to have it in the water your kids are bathing in next door. The company realized this might not be ideal, but instead of fixing the problem, they tried to buy the families’ properties and move on. This is where Brockovich and the legal team stepped in. Around 650 plaintiffs claimed they weren’t informed about health risks related to the plant, and after filing in 1993, they came to a settlement of $333 million. It was the largest payout in a direct-action lawsuit in US history.
the badass behind the $333 Million win
Okay, so this is a crazy story and we know Erin helped make it happen — but why is she such an interesting character to begin with? I’m glad you asked!
Here’s the wild part: Erin Brockovich wasn’t a lawyer. She didn’t even have legal training. Born and raised right here in Lawrence, she earned a degree in fashion merchandising. Her life then went on like all of ours probably will: she got a job, met a man, fell in love. And then the road got bumpy.
After several failed marriages and relationships, she found herself with three kids and no job. As if that wasn’t bad enough, she got into a car accident and lost the case she filed against the driver. Brockovich was furious — and broke. So she went back to the lawyer, who had just lost her case and basically said: “I’m not leaving here until you give me a job.”
And it worked! She got a job and while going through some papers for the so-called PG&E case, she noticed something strange. Why were medical bills attached to property files? Why did things not add up?
And that’s how it all started…
what erin brockovich taught me
I wonder what she went through in those moments of complete despair. Was she frightened? Was she scared for her future and the future of her kids? Because of course we know the story ends well. She made a major career jump after all. Just like how we know almost every romance movie or inspiring biopic eventually finds a happy ending.
But this is her real life. In that moment, no one could guarantee that things would turn out okay. I wonder what kept her pushing. Was it protecting her kids? Proving she could fight back? Whatever motivated her, it worked.
Because she got that job.
She dug through those papers.
And because of her persistence and straightforwardness, they won the case.
Her life is an example of not giving up, that you can hit rock bottom and still make it out. It also shows that your career is not set in stone based on your degree. Brockovich had no legal background, so what? Her story reminds me that you can always start over at 20, at 30, at 40 whenever you decide to. And sometimes, the thing that pulls you out of rock bottom isn’t a huge master plan. Sometimes it’s a coincidence, a spark, and a stubborn feeling that you deserve better.