Erin Brockovich is an American legal clerk and environmental activist known for her role in constructing a case against Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) in 1993. The lawsuit alleged that PG&E contaminated groundwater in Hinkley, California, negatively impacting the health of the community. The case, championed by Brockovich and lawyer Ed Masry, resulted in a substantial settlement and became the basis for the acclaimed film "Erin Brockovich" (2000).
1923: Birth of Erin Brockovich's mother
Erin Brockovich's mother, Betty Jo O'Neal, was born around 1923.
1924: Birth of Erin Brockovich's father
In 1924, Frank Pattee, Erin Brockovich's father, was born.
1952: Construction of the Hinkley compressor station
The Hinkley compressor station, a pivotal element in the PG&E case, was constructed in 1952 as part of a natural gas pipeline.
1954: Birth of Erin Brockovich's brother, Thomas
Erin Brockovich's brother, Thomas, was born in 1954.
June 22, 1960: Erin Brockovich is born
On June 22, 1960, Erin Brockovich (née Pattee) was born.
1966: PG&E ceases use of hexavalent chromium at Hinkley
In 1966, PG&E stopped using hexavalent chromium at the Hinkley compressor station, marking a turning point in the contamination timeline.
1968: PG&E site comes under RWQCB regulation
By 1968, the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) began regulating the PG&E site, reflecting a growing awareness of environmental concerns.
1970: Lehigh Valley Railroad derailment occurs
The Lehigh Valley Railroad derailment, a significant event in the history of LeRoy, New York, occurred in 1970.
1988: Beginning of period for cancer rate analysis in Hinkley
The year 1988 marked the beginning of the period analyzed in a study on cancer rates in Hinkley, California.
1992: Death of Erin Brockovich's brother, Thomas
Erin Brockovich's brother, Thomas, passed away in 1992.
1993: Erin Brockovich begins investigation into PG&E
In 1993, Erin Brockovich played a key role in building a case against Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) concerning contaminated groundwater in Hinkley, California. Working with attorney Ed Masry, her efforts brought to light the issue of hexavalent chromium contamination, leading to a landmark lawsuit.
1996: Purchase of Agoura Hills Home
In 1996, Brockovich used her bonus from the Hinkley settlement to purchase a house in Agoura Hills, California.
1996: Investigation begins into abnormally high brain tumor numbers in Cameron, Missouri
Starting in 1996, investigations began in Cameron, Missouri, to understand the reasons behind an unusually high number of brain tumor cases, marking the beginning of a long and complex investigation.
1996: Settlement reached in the Anderson, et al. v. Pacific Gas & Electric case
The landmark case of Anderson, et al. v. Pacific Gas & Electric concluded in 1996 with a historic $333 million settlement, the largest of its kind for a direct-action lawsuit in the United States at the time.
2000: Erin Brockovich Film Release
The biographical film "Erin Brockovich," starring Julia Roberts, premiered in 2000, depicting Brockovich's work on the Pacific Gas & Electric litigation and garnering widespread recognition.
2000: Release of the movie "Erin Brockovich"
The movie "Erin Brockovich," inspired by her role in the PG&E case and starring Julia Roberts, premiered in 2000, garnering critical acclaim and an Oscar win.
2001: Publication of "Take It from Me: Life's a Struggle But You Can Win"
In 2001, Brockovich published her first book, "Take It from Me: Life's a Struggle But You Can Win."
2003: Erin Brockovich and Ed Masry file lawsuit against Beverly Hills Unified School District
In 2003, Erin Brockovich and Ed Masry initiated legal action against the Beverly Hills Unified School District, alleging that the operation of oil wells on school grounds posed health risks to students.
2003: Erin Brockovich settles lawsuit over mold contamination in her home
In 2003, Erin Brockovich personally faced environmental issues when she discovered mold contamination in her own home in Agoura Hills, California. She successfully sued the responsible parties, further solidifying her role as an advocate for environmental justice.
2006: Settlement reached in Kettleman Hills contamination lawsuit
A lawsuit alleging contamination near PG&E's Kettleman Hills compressor station, a site linked to the Hinkley case, reached a $335 million settlement in 2006, marking another victory in the fight against environmental pollution.
May 2007: Beverly Hills Unified School District receives reimbursement for legal expenses
In May 2007, the Beverly Hills Unified School District received $450,000 as reimbursement for legal fees incurred during a lawsuit filed by Erin Brockovich and Ed Masry, which alleged a link between oil wells on school property and cancer cases. The lawsuit was ultimately dismissed due to lack of evidence.
2008: End of period for cancer rate analysis in Hinkley
The year 2008 marked the end of the period analyzed in a study on cancer rates in Hinkley, California.
2008: Death of Erin Brockovich's mother
Erin Brockovich's mother, Betty Jo O'Neal, passed away in 2008.
April 2009: Lawsuit filed against Prime Tanning Corp. for hexavalent chromium contamination
In April 2009, a lawsuit was filed against Prime Tanning Corp., alleging that their waste, containing hexavalent chromium, was used as fertilizer in northwest Missouri, potentially contributing to a rise in brain tumors in the area.
June 2009: Erin Brockovich investigates contaminated water in Midland, Texas
Erin Brockovich launched an investigation in June 2009 into reports of contaminated water in Midland, Texas, further expanding her advocacy against environmental hazards.
2010: California Cancer Registry study suggests unremarkable cancer rates in Hinkley
A 2010 study by the California Cancer Registry indicated that cancer rates in Hinkley remained relatively normal between 1988 and 2008.
2011: Death of Erin Brockovich's father
The year 2011 marked the passing of Frank Pattee, Erin Brockovich's father.
2012: Featured in "Last Call at the Oasis"
Erin Brockovich played a significant role in the 2012 documentary "Last Call at the Oasis," which explored water pollution and scarcity issues in the United States.
2012: Erin Brockovich investigates student illnesses in LeRoy, New York
In 2012, Erin Brockovich became involved in the case of students in LeRoy, New York, who exhibited unusual medical symptoms, suspecting environmental pollution as a possible cause. However, the students' ailments were later attributed to mass psychogenic illness.
June 2013: Mother Jones publishes critique of Hinkley cancer rate studies
In June 2013, Mother Jones magazine published a critique of studies on cancer rates in Hinkley, sparking debate about the long-term health impacts of the contamination.
2013: Citing Lac-Megantic Oil Train Catastrophe
By 2013, Brockovich began citing the Lac-Megantic, Canada oil train catastrophe as an example of the dangers of prioritizing profits over people, drawing parallels to the Hinkley case and the Flint water crisis.
2016: Residence in Agoura Hills, California
As of 2016, Erin Brockovich has been residing in Agoura Hills, California.
2016: Erin Brockovich participates in potential litigation related to Aliso Canyon gas leak
In early 2016, Erin Brockovich engaged in potential litigation against Southern California Gas in response to the Aliso Canyon gas leak, a major environmental incident that released substantial amounts of methane near Porter Ranch, California.
2019: High Cr-6 levels persist in Hinkley well water
Despite cleanup efforts, in 2019, tests revealed that hexavalent chromium (Cr-6) levels in Hinkley's well water remained significantly elevated, reaching up to 100 times the permissible limit set by California.
August 25, 2020: Publication of "Superman's Not Coming"
Erin Brockovich's second book, "Superman's Not Coming," was published on August 25, 2020.
April 8, 2021: "Rebel" Television Series Premiere
The television series "Rebel," loosely based on Erin Brockovich's life and created by Krista Vernoff, premiered on ABC on April 8, 2021.
2021: PG&E claims 70% contamination cleanup in Hinkley
By 2021, PG&E asserted that they had successfully removed 70% of the contamination in Hinkley, indicating progress in remediation efforts.
2021: Highlighting Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals
In 2021, Brockovich raised concerns about hormone-disrupting chemicals, particularly PFAS, and their impact on human fertility.
February 8, 2022: Support for Steven Donziger
On February 8, 2022, Brockovich wrote an article expressing her support for Steven Donziger, a lawyer who faced legal challenges following his successful lawsuit against Chevron.
October 2022: EPA announces Cr-6 as likely carcinogenic, disputed by industry group
In October 2022, the EPA declared hexavalent chromium (Cr-6) as likely carcinogenic when present in drinking water, a finding contested by the American Chemistry Council, highlighting the ongoing debate surrounding its safety.
2023: Advocacy for East Palestine, Ohio Train Derailment
In 2023, Erin Brockovich quickly responded to the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, providing assistance and advocating for the community affected by the toxic chemical spill.