Los Angles: Edward Masry, the environmental lawyer portrayed by Albert Finney in the hit movie Erin Brockovich, has died at the age of 73, his law firm has said.
Masry died on Monday from complications of diabetes, ending a 40-year legal career in the Los Angeles area that ranged from criminal defense to cases involving toxic contamination.
His work in the 1990s with his then legal assistant Erin Brockovich on a water contamination case in Hinkley,
California, led to what was then the largest toxic tort injury settlement in US history.
Some $333 million in damages were paid to more than 600 residents for the alleged leak of carcinogens into ground water from a Pacific Gas and Electric Co. station.
The tireless investigation of the case by Brockovich and Masry inspired the 2000 movie Erin Brockovich, which won an Oscar for Julia Roberts for her portrayal of the title character. Finney was nominated for a best supporting actor Oscar for his portrayal of Masry.
Masry's interest in the environment also brought him numerous awards from local and national environmental groups for his efforts to preserve open spaces and his work on behalf of consumers.
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