Edward L. Masry

Masry was born in Paterson, New Jersey, to Syrian immigrant parents who ran a silk apparel business.[1] The family moved west to Southern California when he was age eight, settling first in Venice and later in Van Nuys.[2]

As an undergraduate, Masry attended L.A. Valley Junior College, University of California, Santa Barbara, University of California Los Angeles, and University of Southern California, and served with the U.S. Army in France[2] from 1952 to 1954 during the Korean War era, attaining the rank of corporal.[3] Although he never received a Bachelor's degree at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, they accepted him on an exemption due to high placement test scores, and he graduated with a Juris Doctor degree in 1960. Thereafter, he was admitted to the State Bar of California, and set up private practice in 1961.

Masry's law firm was instrumental in bringing about the multi-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 American history.[4]

The case was adapted for the successful 2000 film Erin Brockovich, with Albert Finney portraying Masry. He had a non-speaking cameo appearance in the film as a restaurant patron sitting behind Julia Roberts, as did Erin Brockovich, who played a waitress.

- Representing the plaintiffs in the famous Erin Brockovich case against Pacific Gas and Electric Company. The case involving contaminated drinking water in Hinkley, California, resulted in a $333 million settlement for the victims.

- Successfully arguing a case before the United States Supreme Court on behalf of California consumers who were overcharged for natural gas during the energy crisis of 2000-2001.

- Serving as a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association's Environmental Law Section and the State Bar of California's Environmental Law Section.

- Receiving numerous awards for his environmental law and consumer protection work, including the Consumer Attorney of the Year award from the Consumer Attorneys of California. [5]

Masry died at age 73 at Los Robles Hospital in Thousand Oaks, due to complications related to diabetes.[2] He had resigned from the City Council of Thousand Oaks one week earlier because of his medical condition.

• Ed Masry at IMDb
• Edward L. Masry at Find a Grave