AOCS Erin Brockovich Questions As you watch Erin Brockovich listen/look for answers to the following questions.  Some of the questions have specific, concrete answers from the film, others ask for your opinion or interpretation. Answers are due Thursday, April 26, 2007 at the beginning of class.  1.   How many numbers does Erin give George when they first meet?  2.   Why isn't Erin out to lunch with the girls? 3.   George becomes the babysitter for Erin's children. How does this happen? What does this tell you about George?  4.   Why does PG&E pay for Donna Jensen's medical bills? 5.   How does Erin get information about hexavalent chromium in the water in Hinkley?  Could Ed have gotten the information? Why? 6.   When Erin comes home after being fired from her job, she finds George fixing her kitchen sink. Erin is upset, but after she calms down a bit, she tells George that she had won an award in the past. What was the award? What did Erin think it meant? 7.   When Ed goes to Erin's house to talk to her about the chromium levels in Hinkley, what reason does he give for having fired her?  If you were Ed, would you have fired her for this reason?  Why? 8.  Why is Matthew upset with Erin? 9.  When Ed and Erin vist the Jensens and their neighbors to discuss the case against PG&E, Ed first declines coffee but Erin gets him to stay and have some coffee and cake. Why does Erin want to stay?  Why does Ed want to leave?  What is the result of them staying?

Links about the real Erin Brockovich: NPR Commomwealth Club

10.  When Ed and Erin bring their case to court, the PG&E lawyers ask that the case, basically, be dismissed.  The judge does not agree with PG&E and sides with Ed and Erin. The judge also says that he is personally disturbed by information presented in the case. What information distrubed him?

11.   After the court hearing, PG&E's lawyers meet at the Masry & Vititoe law office. What was "brought in special" for the meeting? Do you think it really was "brought in special"?

12.  What reason does George give for leaving Erin?

13.  What reasons does Erin give for not leaving her job?

14.  Given you answers for #12 &13, in your opinion, should George stay or go?  Exlain your answer.

15.  After Ed gets Curt Potter to partner with his firm on the Hinkley case, what does Ed do for Erin? Why?

16.  Why do Ed & Erin go out to Hinkley for a "town meeting"? What is the result?

17.  After collecting signatures all day, Erin stops in a bar for coffee before she drives home. Who does she meet there? What information does this person have?

18.  Why does Erin want George to go with her when she goes out to talk to Donna Jensen?

19.  How much money did the judge award the Jensen family?

20.  What is the amount of Erin's bonus pay?

21.  Ed says he thought the figure Erin had proposed for her bonus was "inappropriate." This movie addresses the issue of things being "inappropriate" quite a bit. List at least three other examples from the film. For each, explain why it is considered inappropriate in the film and if you yourself believe it is inappropriate.

22.  Another theme one can find in this movie is that of appearances. Of course there is the question of how Erin looks, but there are other examples of people making assumptions about reality based on they "see." One such example is when the PG&Es lawyers meet with Ed and Erin at their office. Ed asks two other office members to join in the meeting.  Ed never introduces Erin or the other two office staff members as lawyers, but the PG&E lawyers assume they are. List at least three other examples of assumptions made in this movie based on appearances.  For each, explain if the assumption was valid or not.

23.  Would you recommend this movie to other ELI students? Why or why not?

Maintained by: Laurie Miller Last updated:  April 20, 2007

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