Biography

After the success of the movie about her, she was the target of a blackmail attempt by her first husband and an old boyfriend (the 'George' character in the movie), with their attorney, who threatened to smear her reputation as a parent. She called the police, who recorded his shakedown threats and arrested them. The attorney reportedly served time in prison as a result.

While working as a paralegal on a pro bono real estate case, Erin sorted through the file and discovered that a public utility company was contaminating a town's water supply. She then knocked on doors to discuss the problem with residents and helped plaintiffs win $333 million in damages in one of the largest class-action lawsuits in history. Afterwards, a movie was made about her life.

Received an associate degree in Applied Arts from Wade, College in Dallas, Texas (1980).

Received an honorary degree (Doctor of Laws) from Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon. Received an honorary degree (Doctor of Humane Letters) from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. Received an honorary degree (Master of Arts) in Business Communication from Jones International University in Centennial, Colorado.

She was paid over $2.5 million for her work on the public utility class-action lawsuit against the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). She then purchased a house in Agoura Hills, California with the $2.5 million bonus after the settlement of the town in Hinkley, California.