Edward L. Masry
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Edward L. Masry (born July 29, 1932 in Paterson, New Jersey, died December 6, 2005 in Thousand Oaks, California) was a partner in the law firm of Masry and Vititoe and a city councilman.
Masry attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, University of California Los Angeles, and University of Southern California. Although he never received a bachelor's degree, Loyola Law School accepted him on an exemption due to high placement scores. He graduated with a Juris Doctor degree in 1960. Thereafter, he was admitted to the California State Bar.
His firm was instrumental in bringing about the muti-plaintiff direct action suit against Pacific Gas & Electric Company, alleging contamination of drinking water with hexavalent chromium in the southern California town of Hinkley. The case was settled in 1996 for $333 million, the largest settlement ever paid in a direct-action lawsuit in United States history.
The lawsuit story was turned into the highly successful film, Erin Brockovich with Albert Finney portraying Masry.
He died due to complications of diabetes, one week after resigning from the council because of his condition.
