ACTIVIST TURNED CELEBRITY SPEAKING AT SCTLA CONVENTION

The South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association is bringing Julia Roberts, err, umm, Erin Brockovich to Hilton Head this weekend for their annual convention. Brockovich will give the keynote speech on Saturday morning to an estimated 1000 attendees.

“Mrs. Brockovich is an internationally sought after speaker and we are honored that she has made time in her busy schedule for us,” SCTLA Executive Director Mike Hemlepp said in a press release sent to The Palmetto Scoop this morning. “Given the great dedication that trial lawyers have had in bringing environmental issues to public attention, this comes at an important time in our association’s history. It will be a privilege to have her at the convention.”

In 1993, Brockovich — a single mother of three — discovered that the California utility, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, had been poisoning the residents of Hinkley, Calif. with the toxic chemical Chromium 6. She used that research to win the largest legal settlement in U.S. history.

Brockovich was portrayed by Julia Roberts in the 2000 self-titled movie for which she (Roberts) won an Academy Award. Fittingly, Roberts reportedly has a place not too far from Hilton Head, so maybe she’ll stop by.

Brockovich isn’t the first big name featured at the SCTLA convention. Previous guests include, Nancy Grace from CourtTV, Johnny Cochran, Vincent Bugliosi, former Sen. Fred Thompson, and Morris Dees.

And yes, I realize that Sic Willie and others will be mad at me for cropping out the best part of the above picture. But sorry folks, it doesn’t fit the banner image size, so deal with it.