Friday, March 17, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section A·Page 5
Erin Brockovich accurate, mother says
Lawrence native is portrayed in movie
By BriAnne Hess
writer@kanson.com
Kansas staff writer
Erin Brockovich was picking up dead frogs on the edge of the Mojave Desert in her customary four-inch heels.
Her mother, B.J. Pattee, waited in the car and yelled to the appearance-conscious Brockovich that the mud was ruining her shoes.
Brockovich didn't care. She was on a mission — collecting samples to prove that Hinkley, Calif., had been contaminated by the local gas and electric station.
Mission netted Brockovich, a Lawrence native, $2.5 million of a $333 million dollar settlement and a movie with her name on it.
Erin Brockovich, starring Julia Roberts as the 1978 Lawrence High graduate, opens nationwide today. Student Union Activities sponsored a free screening of the movie at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts
St. Darren Shabdach, feature
fisher coordinators, said SUA gave
out more than 800 vouchers for
the screening.
Pattee, who still lives in Lawrence, said she did not go to
the screening because she already had seen the movie twice.
"I was prepared to not like part of it, but I did." Pattee said. "I even forgave a few cuss words because I thought they were appropriate."
Although
Brockovich: Graduated from Lawrence High School in 1978
Brockovich's mother wasn't present at the screening, hundreds of University of Kansas students packed into Liberty Hall for the showing, including Stacey Love, Overland Park junior.
"I loved it." Love said. "I loved how at all the exciting parts everybody laughed and clapped together
er. When the movie ended, the mood was really light. Everybody came awave with a good feeling."
rattee said her daughter had been swamped with more than 400 interview requests and that she was making movie premiere appearances.
She said her daughter was comfortable with the movie because she was involved with nearly every step of production — from costume referrals to a cameo appearance. She played the waitress who served Roberts at the beginning of the movie.
"Erin was out there almost every day because they wanted to reconfirm everything." Pattee said
Pattee said that her daughter had continued to battle against the odds.
Her latest mission was the 1994 investigation of a gas and electric facility in Kettleman, Calif. Today, 900 former residents and workers at the plants are suing for personal injury caused by contamination with chromium VI. The trial is set for November.
"I understood why she got involved because she's quite passionate," Pattee said. "It's been the hardest thing for her because she learned what they were like. To see what has happened to them—the different ones developing cancer and dying, I don't think she ever thought about herself."
More information For a review of the movie, See page 6A
Pattee confirmed a report in Newsweek that Brockovich had been diagnosed with a benign tumor in her nose. In the article, Brockovich said she thought the tumor might have been caused by her exposure at the factory sites. Brockovich also said she hoped she was wrong.
Other things have changed in Brockovich's life since the movie.
Pattee said that Brockovich's relationship with George, her boyfriend in the movie, had ended, and that she was married.
"George was sort of a handman and kid watcher, but he hasn't been on the scene for a long while." Pattee said.
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