What happened to Erin Brockovich Kettleman case?
Asked by: Mrs. Abbie Paucek DVM | Last update: June 21, 2026Score: 5/5 (51 votes)
The Kettleman case—which alleged that PG&E contaminated groundwater near its Kettleman Hills compressor station—was successfully settled in February 2006 for $295 million. The sweeping agreement covered over 1,000 plaintiffs across multiple California towns affected by hexavalent chromium (chromium-6), successfully concluding the vast majority of the claims.
Did PG&E ever pay for Hinkley?
Yes, PG&E paid hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements to Hinkley residents for contaminating groundwater with hexavalent chromium (chromium-6). Key payments included a landmark $333 million settlement in 1996 for over 600 residents, followed by another $295 million in 2006 for additional cases.
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.
What illness did Erin Brockovich have?
Erin Brockovich, famous for exposing PG&E's chromium-6 contamination in Hinkley, California, became ill herself during the 1993 investigation. She suffered from a rapidly dropping white blood cell count and an failing immune system due to exposure to the toxins in the water, which she still monitors today.
Did Erin Brockovich really get a $2 million check?
Yes, the real Erin Brockovich received a $2.5 million (approx. $5 million in 2025 value) bonus from the PG&E settlement in 1996. As a legal clerk at Masry & Vititoe, this payment was part of her share of the $333 million settlement.
Despite the movie’s finale, the real town of Hinkley had no happy ending: Part 3
Did Hinkley residents get paid?
Yes, the residents of Hinkley, California, received money from a $333 million settlement with PG&E in 1996. However, many residents received less than expected after legal fees, leading to ongoing disappointment, as many payments were not enough to secure long-term health or to move away from the contaminated area.
Did the real Erin Brockovich dress provocatively?
Even as she dug up evidence for the lawsuit, she never once toned down her wardrobe or stopped her cursing. a company memo about short skirts and demanded that she be fired. "Some of the women in the office were really aggravated." she says. "Just because I dress this way doesn't mean I'm trashy or anything else.
How old are Erin Brockovich's children now?
As of early 2026, Erin Brockovich's three children are adults in their 30s and 40s. Her oldest son, Matt Brown (born mid-1983), is approximately 42–43, daughter Katie Brown is likely in her late 30s, and youngest daughter Elizabeth Brockovich (born circa 1991) is around 34–35, having been nine during the 2000 film's release.
How much did Ed Masry get paid?
Ed Masry’s law firm received approximately $40 million in legal fees from the $333 million 1996 PG&E settlement in the Hinkley, California groundwater contamination case. The total legal fees for the case, which involved multiple firms, were reported to be over $133 million (roughly 40% of the total settlement).
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.
Did Erin Brockovich ever get married again?
Yes, Erin Brockovich has been married three times. Following her divorces from Shawn Brown and Steven Brockovich, she married actor and country musician Eric L. Ellis on March 20, 1999. While they were married for many years, TMZ reported in 2012 that Ellis filed for divorce.
Do PEOPLE still live in Hinkley, CA?
Yes, people still live in Hinkley, California, but it has largely become a "ghost town in-the-making" following widespread groundwater contamination by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E). While thousands once lived there, massive property buyouts by PG&E have reduced the population, leaving behind a small, scattered community and many abandoned, demolished buildings.
What happened to Ed Masry?
Ed Masry, the attorney best known for the landmark $333 million PG&E toxic tort case portrayed in the movie Erin Brockovich, died on December 6, 2005, at age 73. He passed away from complications related to diabetes at Los Robles Hospital in Thousand Oaks, California, shortly after resigning from the City Council.
How much did BP pay the survivors?
BP paid approximately $67 million to settle class-action claims from over 22,000 cleanup workers who fell ill, averaging only about $3,000 per person. While BP set aside over $60 billion for total disaster costs, 79% of individual claimants received no more than $1,300 each, leaving most with minimal compensation for health issues.
What is the net worth of Erin Brockovich?
What is Erin Brockovich's Net Worth? Erin Brockovich is an American legal clerk and environmental activist who has a net worth of $10 million. Erin Brockovich is most well-known for building a case against the Pacific Gas & Electric Company in California.
How much did Julia Roberts get paid for Erin Brockovich?
Julia Roberts was paid $20 million for her role in Erin Brockovich (2000), making history as the first actress to receive that amount for a single film. Her landmark salary matched the pay of top male stars at the time and she subsequently won the Academy Award for Best Actress for the performance.
How much money did Erin Brockovich win for her clients?
Erin Brockovich, working with attorney Edward L. Masry, helped secure a $333 million settlement for residents of Hinkley, California, in 1996. This settlement was for a direct-action lawsuit against Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) regarding chromium-6 contamination.
Who is the richest lawyer in the US?
Based on 2024-2025 reports, John Morgan, founder of the personal injury firm Morgan & Morgan, is among the richest practicing lawyers in the U.S. with a net worth in the billionaire range. Other individuals with law degrees holding immense wealth include Jerry Reinsdorf (approx. $2 billion) and the late Joe Jamail, who was long considered the wealthiest practicing trial lawyer.
What happened to the lawyer in Erin Brockovich?
Edward L. Masry, a flamboyantly pugnacious lawyer who won millions from a utility in a toxic pollution suit and was portrayed by the actor Albert Finney in the 2000 movie "Erin Brockovich," died on Monday at a hospital in Thousand Oaks, Calif. He was 73.
Does Danny Moder have other kids?
In this photo posted to Danny Moder's Instagram account, Julia Roberst is shown with her children. Moder and Roberts have been married for over two decades, since July 4, 2002. The couple share three children: twins Hazel and Phinnaeus, both 20, and son Henry, 17.
What did Julia Roberts think of Albert Finney?
Roberts, 51, played the titular legal assistant and Finney her lawyer Ed Masry, who was instrumental in the lawsuit against Pacific Gas & Electric Company. “It was my terrific joy and privilege to work with Albert,” Roberts tells PEOPLE exclusively. “His talent was eclipsed only by his enormous heart.”
What did Nicole Kidman say about Julia Roberts?
Nicole Kidman Reveals She Wanted Julia Roberts' Role in Notting Hill: 'I Wasn't Talented Enough' Benjamin VanHoose is the Senior News Editor on the TV team at PEOPLE. He has written about entertainment and breaking news for the brand since 2019.
How much did the people of Hinkley get?
In 1996,650 residents of Hinkley, California, received a $333 million settlement from Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) for contaminating their drinking water with hexavalent chromium. While this was a record-setting amount, individual payouts varied significantly based on severity of illness, with some receiving over $1 million, while others reported receiving $100,000 or less.
Did Lady Gaga wear real meat?
Yes, Lady Gaga wore a dress made entirely of real, raw flank steak to the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. Designed by Franc Fernandez and styled by Nicola Formichetti, the dress was created from about 40–50 pounds of Argentine beef sourced from a family butcher.
What did the real Erin Brockovich think of the movie?
Erin Brockovich loved the 2000 film based on her life, calling it "98% accurate" and praising Julia Roberts for a "wonderful" performance that captured her fire and passion. She thought the film was, overall, a fantastic and accurate representation of her work and the struggle of the Hinkley community, according to an interview on CNBC.