what law firm did erin brockovich work for
On July 22, 1993, a small law firm in Los Angeles, California, made history when it secured a historic legal victory for its client, Erin Brockovich. The firm, Masry & Vititoe, successfully won a $333 million settlement against Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) for contaminating the drinking water of the small town of Hinkley, California. The case was made famous by the 2000 movie, Erin Brockovich, starring Julia Roberts.
The firm was founded in 1971 by Edward Masry and Edward Vititoe, who had both previously worked as public defenders. The firm specialized in personal injury cases and quickly gained a reputation for taking on difficult cases. Masry & Vititoe had a long history of representing victims of environmental pollution, and it was this experience that allowed them to take on the case of Erin Brockovich.
In 1993, Erin Brockovich, a legal assistant at Masry & Vititoe, came across a file that contained evidence of PG&E’s contamination of the drinking water in the small town of Hinkley, California. She brought the information to the attention of her bosses, who decided to take on the case.
The firm was up against a formidable opponent in PG&E, a large and powerful corporation. However, Masry & Vititoe was able to build a strong case against the company, and in July 1993, they won a historic victory for their client. The settlement of $333 million was the largest ever in a direct-action lawsuit in U.S. history.
The success of the case was due in large part to the hard work of the lawyers and staff at Masry & Vititoe. The firm was able to secure a settlement that was far greater than what PG&E had initially offered. The victory was a major milestone in environmental law, and it set a precedent for other cases involving corporate pollution.
The case of Erin Brockovich is a testament to the power of small law firms to take on large corporations and win. Masry & Vititoe’s victory was a major victory for environmental law, and it has inspired other firms to take on similar cases. The firm’s success in the case of Erin Brockovich is a reminder of the importance of small law firms in the fight for justice.