People in LeRoy question Erin Brockovich's return: "What is she looking for?"

Posted at: 08/14/2012 10:57 AM | Updated at: 08/14/2012 4:01 PM
By: Berkeley Brean | WHEC.com

Look who's team is coming back to town. it's Erin Brockovich and she says she has findings connected to the mysterious illness in LeRoy.

It's been a while since we talked about this. All of the families of the girls suffering from Tourettes-like tics have stayed private since this story exploded in the media over the winter. But now, Brockovich is coming to LeRoy herself to "answer questions about her findings in leroy." (That's what's written on her flier).

"What is she looking for? This thing is pretty much settled," said Ronnie Rossi, a barber in LeRoy. "I think what she might do is stir up the waters a bit. And things have settled down."

The thing that got Brockovich's attention it the first place was the mysterious illness that afflicted more than a dozen girls in LeRoy over the winter. Some even appeared on the Today Show.

They had uncontrollable tics and some people feared it was environmental. In january, Brockovich's top investigator and some parents came to LeRoy high school unannounced, to inspect the school grounds. They were looking at a 40 year old train derailment near the LeRoy high school.

"The last time I know she wasn't exactly welcomed with open arms in the school in LeRoy. Caledonia she didn't make a lot of friends either ," said Joe Caluorie. He would know. He's the mayor of Caledonia.

"We've got the right people, environmental people looking into this," he said. "I happen to rely on them, not her."

Not everyone is upset with the visit. We spoke with Marge Fitzsimmons, the 36 year old woman who came down with the same tics. She believes she has conversion disorder, not something environmental, but she's anxious to find out what Erin Brockovich has to say.

The meeting details

The public meeting is Wednesday, August 22nd at the American Legion in LeRoy. The flier says the meeting goes from 6 til 8 pm. The flier says everyone is welcome to share concerns and "get clear honest answers to questions."

A note on the girls

It's difficult to report how the girls in LeRoy are doing now because their parents will not talk publicly about their conditions. But through conversations with people in the town and village, it appears that most, if not all of the girls, have recovered considerably. We're told that in stressful moments, the tic symptoms can return.

Click here for more information on conversion disorder. 

Have a story you want our news team to investigate? Call us at 585-232-1010, click here to send us an e-mail or leave us a Facebook post or tweet.

Print Story