Week 3 EOC: PG&E Case

“In 1996 PG&E settled the case for $333 million. This was the largest settlement ever awarded in a direct-action lawsuit in the history of the United States. The lawyers received forty percent, which was a little over $133 million. As in the film, attorney Ed Masry rewarded Erin Brockovich 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.”

Erin brokovich received 2 million dollars after winning the case for PG&E, a well earned 2 million in my opinion!  But when it comes to the victims I personally believe that, that was still a pretty low amount each victim received I mean there were very Sevier damages caused to the victims there lives will never be the same thanks to PG&E. The victims will have to live with their illnesses for the rest of their lives; I feel it’s very unfair! I believe that the reasonable amount for each victim would have been at least $500.000, these are illnesses they have to live with some may be disabled for the rest of there live and may not even be able to work, $300,000 is still a very low amount in my opinon.

“Not all of the victims were happy with the amount of money that they were given. After being billed an extra $10 million for undetailed expenses and having to wait nearly six months after the $333 million had been deposited by PG&E, many of the victims were unhappy with the sum of money that they had been rewarded. The lawyers determined this sum confidentially by various factors, including the severity of their ailments. On average, this came to $300,000 per victim, as stated previously. Some did receive several million. Others received less. For example, Dorothea Montoya received $60,000; Christine Mace got $50,000; Lynn Tindell $50,000; Tiffany Oliver got $60,000.

 Plaintiff Carol Smith argued, "It didn't make sense why my husband, who's had 17 tumors removed from his throat, got only $80,000." After the residents, including Smith, were told that their awards would be based on their medical records, some claimed that their medical records were never looked at, "...no one ever looked at my medical records," said Carol Smith. "I'm sure of that because my doctors told me so after I asked." As a result, some of the plaintiffs appealed their settlements, seeking sums that they felt were more justified.

http://www.chasingthefrog.com/reelfaces/brockovich.php

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2006-02-06-pge-settlement-brockovich_x.htm

Salon.com