Research Paper On Erin Brockovich

1710 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Real life heroes in literature

Heroes know no boundaries. Although they originate under various circumstances, they are all united in their fervent desire to make a difference in the world around them. From acts of valor to everyday acts of kindness, heroes understand that being a bystander is not an option. Erin Brockovich understood this when she, along with attorney Edward Masry, tackled a case involving the deliberate negligence of the Pacific Gas & Electric Company that resulted in drinking water contaminated with hexavalent chromium. In Erin Brockovich, the film’s namesake refuses to stay on the sidelines as carcinogenic hexavalent chromium wreaks havoc on the town of Hinkley, California. Brockovich, along with others like her, understand that heroes do not wait for …show more content…

While Brockovich may not have had the legal system on her side, unlawfulness does not always equate to unethical judgement. First, it is essential to note the scope of the utility services provided by PG&E within the state of California. “Pacific Gas and Electric Company is the largest investor-owned gas and electric utility in the United States in terms of sales. It has a service area covering about 94,000 square miles—most of northern and central California—and a population of more than ten million people” ("Pacific Gas and Electric Company"). This immense service area means that PG&E is a major utility provider among Californians. The company’s sphere of influence results in millions of individual cases where the company is accountable for potential problems that negatively affect customers and noncustomers. In Erin Brockovich, Masry and Brockovich work relentlessly to make PG&E answer for its negligence by demanding just compensation for the affected residents of Hinkley. Certainly, mishandling of cooling water rich in hexavalent chromium at PG&E’s natural gas compression station led to the contamination of Hinkley’s groundwater supply. However, this natural gas compression station was only one of several compression stations in PG&E’s natural gas distribution system. “Eight gas …show more content…

However, how Brockovich obtained the job was a breach in ethical conduct. As a single mother who just suffered injuries from a car accident, Brockovich was financially hard-pressed. Masry represented Brockovich in the car accident case. However, due to Brockovich’s explosive outburst in the courtroom, her case is dismissed. Holding Masry to his promise that everything would be okay, Brockovich shows up to the law firm requesting a job. Not taking no for an answer, Brockovich bullies and manipulates her way into working for the law firm. Despite Brockovich excelling in her work, the ends do not necessarily justify the means. By admitting Brockovich, Masry is setting up a “slippery slope” in terms of hiring at his law firm. Certainly, the other legal clerks at the firm did not obtain employment through constant pestering and harassment. Why should Brockovich be held to a different standard than the other employees? Once an exception in the system is made, others will surely follow. Other employees will inquire about why a certain employee is receiving different treatment. Demands will be voiced, and tensions will rise within the company. Undoubtedly, Brockovich proved to be a huge asset in taking PG&E to court. Without her diligence, it could have been decades before the victims even had a chance for a settlement. Having said that, Brockovich could have handled herself better

Show More
Related

  • Faragher V. City Of Boca Raton Summary

    661 Words  | 2 Pages

    The legal action was meant to set precedent about a public employer’s (or any employer) responsibility when it comes to the action of employees and claims of sexual harassment. For a human resources manager there are several implications. One is to make sure everybody has a copy of not just company policies on sexual harassment but all company policies and that each employee sign and agree that s/he has read and understands them. Another implication is that there should be regular training on how to prevent harassment. Perhaps even a liaison should be appointed for “delicate” matters such as sexual harassment.

    Read More

  • Pittston Coal Company: Tort Law

    1251 Words  | 3 Pages

    Arnold & Porter chose to sue Pittston rather than the Buffalo Mining Company because the value of the corporation allowed for adequate compensation to the victims. Author and head lawyer for the plaintiffs, Gerald M. Stern, writes that the original goal was sue to sue for $21 million for the disaster to have a material effect on the cooperation (51). To avoid responsibility Pittston attempted to prove that the Buffalo Mining Company was an independent corporation with its own board of directors. The lawyers for the plaintiffs disproved this claim by arguing the Buffalo Mining Company never held formal meetings of the board of directors and was not independent of the parent company. During this case Pittston’s Oil division had applied to build an oil refinery in Maine. The ...

    Read More

  • Patty Hearst Research Paper

    887 Words  | 2 Pages

    When the FBI looked at it they thought that it was just right that she was getting convicted because they thought that she did it, too. They didn’t like Patty Hearst case because her father Randolph Apperson Hearst was a newspaper heir worldwide, so they kidnapped his daughter to get back at him that he was famous. The SLA wanted to be famous, so they kidnapped his daughter to be famous around the world. When they knew nobody would help her, they just convicted her because they thought she was the one that robbed the

    Read More

  • Leigh Anne As A Hero In The Film Avengers Assemble

    1652 Words  | 4 Pages

    Although not every hero shouts “Avengers Assemble” before a worthy deed, heroism is shown in all aspects of the everyday world. Webster Dictionary has exactly 5 definitions under the word hero and still no two people explain heroism the same. Superman and Captain America are a glimpse of the fictional characters society titles a hero. Firefighters and Military portray heroism each day in the lives of every civilian. As Sullivan and Venter stated “individuals are referred to as ‘heroes’ for seemingly different reasons” and even through endless studies the adjectives referring heroes is ever changing. Among the various ideas of what it means to be a hero, boldness and valiance capture the essence of heroism.

    Read More

  • Analysis of Jonathan Harr´s A Civil Action

    1145 Words  | 3 Pages

    In conclusion, finding out the truth, the facts, and the goal of justice should be the main purpose of any civil case. Sadly, the judicial process gets in the way. The legal system becomes unjust and in some cases, justice is never served. Seeing the story unfold and reading about the struggle between wealth and power and justice is exciting, yet saddening. The book matters and should be read by all, from people who are studying the legal system to people who are not. It is an emotional and engaging book. It can’t be forgotten. One man can make the biggest difference and finding the truth is much more fulfilling than any riches.

    Read More

  • Mrs. Jennifer Sharkey V. P. Morgan Chase Case Study

    1121 Words  | 3 Pages

    On the other hand, we can infer that the reason was because they genuinely did not find sufficient evidence in order to terminate any relationship with the Suspect Client, and that they took the "wrong decision" to fire Mrs. Sharkey in order to stop the investigation. Moreover, we could say that the defendants wanted to prevent a possible lawsuit by the Suspect Client as a result of an unjustifiably business

    Read More

  • Trial Procedure in the Movie A Civil Action

    778 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the film, A Civil Action, Trial Procedure was shown throughout the entire movie. There are many steps that need to be completed before a verdict and judgment can be reached. These steps are the pleadings, methods of discovery, pretrial hearings, jury selection, opening statements, introduction of evidence, cross examinations, closing arguments, instructions to the jury, and the verdict and judgment. The case in this movie was actually called Anderson v. Cryovac. The plaintiffs are the Anderson family, the Gamache family, the Kane family, the Robbins family, the Toomey family, and the Zona family. The plaintiffs’ attorneys are Jan Schlichtmann, Joe Mulligan, Anthony Roisman, Charlie Nesson, and Kevin Conway. The two co- defendants are W.R. Grace and Beatrice Foods. The two co-defendants’ attorneys are William Cheeseman, Jerome Facher, Neil Jacobs, and Michael Keating.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Antigone And Erin Brockovich

    570 Words  | 2 Pages

    Erin Brockovich was a women who had three kids and was struggling to provide for them. She had no choice but to go on a search for a job. Erin managed to find a job working with her lawyer. Eventually she had a case that had the potential of turning her life around. Erin had people try to get over on her, including the lawyer she was working with. He set up multiple meetings without her knowing. Erin didn’t let this happen, she marched into the meeting and set the record straight. She was not going to let a man take advantage of her hard work. Other people also tried to take the case from her as well. Erin was so determined to win the case for all the patients she got to know, she didn’t let any obstacle stop her from winning the case. She eventually found the data that she needed to win the case and was able to help the

    Read More

  • Toxic Waste Sites in Texas

    1017 Words  | 3 Pages

    Exxon/Mobil, one of the nation’s leading oil producers, has its main refinery located in Beaumont, Texas. Each year, the residents of Beaumont/Port Arthur have to contend with the 39,000 pounds of pollution spewed each year by the Exxon refinery. Exxon’s emissions are 385% above the state refinery average. In 1999, the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Committee (TNRCC) allowed the plant to increase their emissions, without allowing the public to have a say in the matter. Interestingly, 95% of the people living near the plant are of African American descent and are in the poverty range. Some believe that this, along with the lack of education in the area, allows Exxon to get away with such high emissions. Residents in nearby neighborhoods have been complaining of headaches, nausea, eye, and throat irritation for years. Since 1997, Mobil has repeatedly violated health standards in its emissions of two key air pollutants: sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, These “rotten egg” smells are so strong, one can smell it through a car driving past the refinery. After numerous complaints and one record of a refinery worker becoming unconscious because of the fumes, the EPA awarded Exxon with a $100,000 environmental justice grant in October of 1998. Hopefully, Exxon has put the money to good use and cleaned up their emissions.

    Read More

  • Age Discrimination Case Study

    1231 Words  | 3 Pages

    Maria DeSimone, 40 years old; wife and mother of two children of Palm Bay, Florida, was refused employment at the establishment in which she applied to. The circumstances surrounding the case were as follows. Ms. DeSimone possessed two years of previous restaurant experience, she applied for a position at Texas Roadhouse of Palm Bay to the manager of the facility. When she never heard back from the manager (who said he would get back to her); she happened to be discussing the situation with a friend; the friend told her that Texas Roadhouse had just hired her 19-year-old daughter to the position in which she had just applied for. Previously when she had not heard back from the manager about the position, he told her that “they weren’t hiring at this time” (Lee and Hymowitz,

    Read More

  • Ethical Issues in film Erin Brockovich

    1531 Words  | 4 Pages

    There are many ethical issues in the movie Erin Brockovich. This movie is about a mother of three who uncovers a water poisoning case by Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) in southern California. Once it was proved that the company had knowingly dumped hexavalent chromium into the ground water, the utility company was found liable for a $330 million dollar verdict.

    Read More

  • Heroism in Watchmen

    971 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...ort the same element that this graphic novel supports. These people rushing to the aid of the woman (Moore and Gibbons XI, 25, panel 7) suggest that a true hero is not always in a costume, and does not always cover his/her face, however heroes are ordinary citizens that put their own issues aside just to help others.

    Read More

  • Research Paper On Ted Bundy

    1186 Words  | 3 Pages

    Ted Bundy grew up in a working-class family in Tacoma, Washington. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1972 with a degree in psychology and was accepted to law school. The Republican governor of Washington even wrote Bundy a letter of recommendation after he worked with him on a campaign. And yet, Ted Bundy was one of the most infamous serial killers of the twentieth century, responsible for the deaths of at least thirty-six women. Bundy was charismatic and astute, making him a sort of a celebrity in the seventies. His case inspired a wave of serial killer-based movies and novels (Ted Bundy Biography). People became strangely fascinated with the macabre stories of serial killers and have been trying to understand them ever since.

    Read More

  • Ethical Concerns Regarding the BP Texas City Oil Refinery Explosion

    4263 Words  | 9 Pages

    BP was founded in 1908 under the name Anglo-Persian Oil Company. They changed their name to British Petroleum in 1954 and merged with Amoco in 1998. (BP Public Website, 2010) “The Texas City Refinery is BP’s largest and most complex oil refinery... It was owned and operated by Amoco prior to the merger of BP and Amoco.” (Michael P. Broadribb, 2006) Throughout their history, there have been a number of accidents that have been caused by negligence and disregard of safety precautions. Unfortunately many lives have been cut short or seriously injured as a result. My research will focus on the 2005 Texas City Oil Refinery Explosion. I will attempt to look into the ethical implications that surrounded this disaster before and after the event and suggest what BP could have done to prevent the incident then and in the future.

    Read More

  • Hostile Work Environment: Closed-door Meetings Violate Company Policy

    879 Words  | 2 Pages

    Facts of the case: Anna’s immediate supervisor, Michael, repeatedly required that she have “closed door” meetings with him. Closed-door meetings violate company policy. Other employees were aware of these closed-door meetings and, as a result, rumors began to spread that Anna and Michael were having an office romance. In fact, in these closed-door meetings Michael tried to convince Anna to lend him money, a practice that also violates company policy. Anna repeatedly denied the request and Michael stopped asking. However, the rumors continued and affected Anna deeply. She was treated like an outcast by her co-workers. Anna asked Michael to clear up the rumors, but he found them amusing. Anna had two evaluations where she scored low points for “integrity” and “interpersonal relations” as a consequence of the rumors. She was passed over for two promotions for which she applied where her skills and experience were superior to the employees who were promoted. She filed an action against her employer on the ground that her supervisor had created a hostile work environment because he refused to stop the rumors.

    Read More

More about Research Paper On Erin Brockovich

Open Document