Do people still live in Hinkley, CA?
Asked by: scraper | Last update: August 1, 2026Score: 0/5 (0 votes)
Yes, people still live in Hinkley, California, though it has become a fraction of the community it once was.
What happened to the people of Hinkley, CA?
Her investigation found that the health of many people who lived in and around Hinkley during the three preceding decades had been damaged by exposure to hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium 6, a suspected carcinogen that had leaked into the groundwater from PG&E's nearby repressurization station.
Did Hinkley residents get paid?
Yes, the residents of Hinkley, California received their money, but the final payouts were significantly less than many expected.
What does Hinkley, California look like today?
Hinkley, California, in May 2026, remains a quiet, semi-abandoned desert community heavily impacted by long-term groundwater contamination from PG&E’s compressor station. Following widespread property buyouts, it is often described as a ghost town, with a dwindling population and scattered residences, featuring hot desert weather (highs near 100°F).
How much did Erin Brockovich get from the PG&E settlement?
Pacific Gas & Electric (file BCV 00300). In 1996, it settled for $333M, the largest direct-action lawsuit settlement in U.S. history at that time. Masry & Vititoe received $133.6M in fees. Erin Brockovich received $2.5M.
Hinkley CA, It’s closer and Crazier than you think.
What happened to Erin's boyfriend George?
Brockovich and her then-boyfriend George (played in the film by Aaron Eckhart) split right around the time that Erin Brockovich premiered, and he's since died. "George had a brain tumor and there were a lot of things going on that I don't think a lot of us understood," Brockovich told Vulture in 2020.
How much money did Julia Roberts get for Erin Brockovich?
Julia Roberts was paid $20 million for her role in Erin Brockovich.
Did Erin Brockovich really get a $2 million check?
Yes, Erin Brockovich received a $2 million bonus (which was actually closer to $2.5 million) as part of her fee in the historic 1996 Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) direct-action lawsuit.
Is Hinkley water safe to drink?
HINKLEY — Twenty-one years after Erin Brockovich discovered the city's water contained high levels of hexavalent chromium (chromium-6), the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board has told Hinkley residents their once-toxic water is now safe to drink.
What does Erin Brockovich do now?
Erin Brockovich remains an active consumer advocate and environmental activist. As President of Brockovich Research & Consulting, she advises on pollution and water contamination cases worldwide. She also works as a consumer advocate on the LA Fire Justice team for Southern California wildfire victims.
What illness did Erin Brockovich have?
While investigating the PG&E hexavalent chromium (chromium-6) water contamination in the 1990s, Erin Brockovich herself became sick from ingesting the toxic chemical. Her white blood cell count plummeted and her immune system failed. Today, she still routinely has her white blood cells monitored.
Was Ed Masry a successful lawyer?
He received numerous awards for his environmental law and consumer protection work, including the Consumer Attorney of the Year award from the Consumer Attorneys of California.
How much did the lawyers get from the Hinkley lawsuit?
Brockovich's attorneys received 133.6 million dollars from the settlement, while Brockovich herself received two million as a bonus. However, in the real story, Brockovich's attorneys held onto her portion of the money for six months. They finally paid her portion after she threatened several lawsuits.
How much of the Erin Brockovich movie is true?
The 2000 film Erin Brockovich is highly accurate to real life. The real Erin Brockovich has stated that the movie is about 98% true to the actual events, with only minor cinematic tweaks made for the sake of pacing and storytelling.
Did Erin and Ed win the Kettleman case?
The Kettleman suit was settled for $335 million in 2006. In 2003, Brockovich received settlements of $430,000 from two parties and an undisclosed amount from a third party to settle her lawsuit alleging toxic mold in her Agoura Hills, California, home.
Are George and Erin Brockovich still together?
No, George (based on the real-life Jorg Halaby) and Erin Brockovich are not still together. They split around the time the movie Erin Brockovich premiered in 2000. While he acted as a supportive, live-in nanny for her children for a time, they did not stay together, and Jorg later passed away from a brain tumor.
How much did Erin Brockovich win?
The landmark 1996 lawsuit spearheaded by Erin Brockovich against Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) resulted in a $333 million settlement for the residents of Hinkley, California. Brockovich, who worked as a legal clerk, personally received a $2.5 million payout as part of her share in the firm's legal fees.
What state in the US has the worst tap water?
1. Texas:
- Tap water in Texas may contain as many as 207 contaminants.
- More than 700 water systems in Texas — reaching 8.6 million people — had TTHM levels above the EPA's legal limit of 80 parts per billion.
How did the water in Hinkley get contaminated?
Hinkley Compressor Station Chromium Contamination Cleanup
The wastewater from the cooling towers was discharged to unlined ponds at the site. Some of the wastewater percolated to the groundwater, resulting in hexavalent chromium pollution.
What is Erin Brockovich worth today?
Erin Brockovich has an estimated net worth of $10 million. This wealth stems from her career as an environmental activist, author, and television personality, which was propelled by her famous 1996 legal victory against Pacific Gas & Electric.
Is Emily Simpson still an attorney?
Emily Simpson no longer actively practices law, though she keeps her license active in both California and Utah. Instead of working a traditional legal job, The Real Housewives of Orange County star focuses on her family, advocates for the California Innocence Project, and hosts the legal podcast Legally Brunette with her husband, Shane Simpson.
Did Julia Roberts forget to thank Erin Brockovich?
Roberts reportedly took more than the assigned 45-second speech for her victory and thanked a host of people for her win in the four-minute speech. However, she famously forgot to thank the real-life Erin Brockovich on stage.
Why did Matthew Perry leave Julia Roberts?
Matthew Perry ended his relationship with Julia Roberts in 1996 because he felt deeply insecure and unworthy of her affection. Haunted by the belief that she would inevitably dump him, he chose to break up with her first to avoid the agony of losing her.
How much did Ed give Erin Brockovich?
As in the film, attorney Ed Masry rewarded Erin Brockovich-Ellis with a $2-million bonus. The more than 600 Hinkley plaintiffs, many of whom had become seriously ill, were in the end left with $196 million to be divided between them. On average, each victim received $300,000.
Who did Denzel refuse to kiss?
Denzel Washington famously refused to kiss his co-star Julia Roberts in the 1993 film The Pelican Brief. He requested that romantic kissing scenes be removed, explaining that Black women—who had always been his core audience—were rarely portrayed as objects of desire in Hollywood, and he did not want to alienate them.