Lifetime Offers Final Justice with Erin Brockovich

At its best, television can inspire and promote the common good. These seem to be the noble goals of Lifetime's newest series, "Final Justice." Hosted by noted public advocate Erin Brockovich, the series is a welcome addition to the otherwise lightweight genre of "reality television."

Each episode features profiles of three courageous women who have dared to try and make a difference. Each episode also features a "call to action." In it, viewers will be given information on how they can help follow-up on one of the causes presented on the show to help make it a reality. The "call to action" will involve simple, yet important, things like where to write a letter or where to call to lobby for a certain topic.

Though she has been a public advocate for many years, most people didn't become acquainted with Erin Brockovich until the 2000 Academy-Award winning film "Erin Brockovich." Julia Roberts played the title role and won the Oscar for Best Actress for her portrayal of the feisty real-life heroine.

Because of Brockovich's efforts, Pacific Gas and Electric was forced to pay $333 million in damages and clean-up costs to the people of Hinkley, California. The court found that the utility had knowingly kept the dangers of a toxic chemical called Chromium 6 a secret from the townspeople. The toxic pollution lead to many health complications for the residents. A few people even died.

Stories in the first episode of "Final Justice" include:

A profile of Susan Wilson, a soft-spoken Louisiana woman who fought back against a neighbor who placed a hidden camera in her home and taped her most private moments. At the time of the incident, there was no state law against doing such a thing. There is now, thanks to Wilson's efforts.

Carol Sievers suffered the loss of her daughter who was brutally raped and murdered. Police were unable to find the culprit due to a lack of DNA evidence. Sievers now helps lead the fight to lobby for the expansion of DNA databanks around the country.

Autumn Skeen's son Aaron was killed in an automobile accident. Weighing more than the weight specified on her child safety seat, Skeen used a seat belt to buckle her son into the backseat of her car. Unfortunately, the seat belt it was not designed to protect someone so young and her son died in the crash. Skeen now helps lead the fight to ensure proper car safety for children.

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