Abi Otwell - Erin Brockovich Response

1. I do think Erin Brockovich’s aggressive pursuit of a job stems from her single mother status. Struggling to not only make a living, but also to support three children will take a toll on a person’s priorities. She doesn’t seem to care what others think of her, she just cares that she gets what she needs to survive. She definitely is pushy, but I can see where she’s coming from. That said, I think that she needs to put effort into learning what is appropriate for various situations in life. Due to her financially disadvantaged life, she doesn’t know how people interact in the workplace. For example, she clearly shows that she lacks common knowledge when she uses profane language in a courtroom and dresses inappropriately for a job interview. Her lifestyle proves to be a disadvantage to her socially and economically, but this doesn’t mean that she is unable to adapt to her new work environment.
2. When viewers first meet Ed Masry, he assures Erin that he can get her a large settlement after she is hit by a car. However, he fails her when the defendant, a doctor, hires a better, more expensive lawyer who is able to frame Erin as a reckless, crazy, quick-tempered woman. It is clear that Ed did not put in nearly as much work as he would have for a client worth millions of dollars. I do think that attorneys should provide the same level of service to any client they take. Regardless of the client’s revenue, it is an attorney’s job to prioritize their clients. I understand why it may be difficult to treat a pro-bono case the same as a case with a million dollar corporation, however, this should be the goal for attorneys.
3. Merriam Webster defines “work ethic” as “a belief in work as moral good”. In the workplace, Erin acts extremely self-righteous. She goes off to do her own research on the PG&E situation and as a result, Ed fires her because workers are obviously expected to show up everyday. She accuses Ed of feeling guilty for firing a woman with three kids to feed, so it’s clear that while Erin ignores her obligations for work, she thought that she would prove to be more than a temporary employee. When Ed shows up at her house, she doesn’t understand why he assumed she simply ditched work to go out and have fun. While she may not represent the best employee in terms of normal standards, I do think she has a good work ethic. Based on Merriam Webster’s definition of work ethic, Erin does show that she believes in working in good morale given her work with those who are being exposed to toxic water.
4. I definitely agree with Erin’s perspective on the need for a higher settlement. She makes her compelling argument by asking the PG&E attorneys to consider how much their own body is worth. She notes two particular clients, one woman who needed a hysterectomy at age twenty, and another man whose spine is deteriorating due to the toxic exposure to hexavalent chromium. She knows that PG&E’s original offer is not even close to an amount that would make a difference when split between the 400 or so plaintiffs. Erin’s actions in this scene clearly show her strong work ethic. She is willing to sacrifice her time with her kids in order to help these people improve their health and wellness in addition to taking PG&E down for their lack of integrity. While Erin’s professional approach to the situation may be unorthodox, she certainly does the right thing and fights for the people whose lives have been ruined by PG&E’s lies.