HARRIMAN, Tenn (WVLT) ---Hundreds of Roane County homeowners got a crash course in chemistry and the law with the help of a law consultant Hollywood made famous. Erin Brockovich and attorneys met with the families concerned about the now nearly three-week old TVA ash spill Friday night.

Brockovich and the attorneys discussed everything from what they say is in the fly ash and what fearful families can do about it, legally.
Hollywood made Brockovich a household name with the Academy-Award-winning 2000 film, starring Julia Roberts. But not everyone thinks East Tennessee should be home to the sequel, at least not yet.

Roane County resident Cathy Snyder says the sludge seeped into the cove at her home, and she has the pictures to prove it.

"I have grandchildren. I'm afraid to even let them swim in the water, not knowing how it is. I just don't know," Snyder said.

Cathy Snyder says she lives about 12 miles downriver from the Tennessee Valley Authority's Kingston Fossil Plant, where more than a billion gallon of ash and water spewed nearly three weeks ago.

She and hundreds of other fearful families packed into the Roane State Community College gym Friday night, looking for answers about what they can do now.

"Lawsuits aren't a bad thing. In the absence of a company...attorneys are here to protect your personal rights," Erin Brockovich said.

Brockovich brought along lawyers from the New York City firm Weitz and Luxenberg. They gave homeowners lessons in fly ash chemistry and legal options.

"There have been four other firms who've come into the community and already filed lawsuit," Brockovich said.

But some say it's too soon to be talking about class action lawsuits.

"Any type of lawsuit doesn't need to be filed immediately or right away," Kingston City Councilman Brant Williams said.

Williams worries lawsuits will shut down clean up negotiations between Roane County and TVA officials.

"Folks, give your city council, give your county government a chance to work with TVA to do the right thing. When we see they're not doing that, that's the time to engage in litigation," Williams said.

Brockovich says she's just giving families information so they can decide what they want. But lawyers are ready to go.

"If you let the time lag you get stuck down here at the end, and you figure out, oh yes, you were affected by this but you now have no legal recourse," Brockovich said.

Snyder says she'll consider joining a lawsuit, but only as a last resort.

"It'll be devastating to live by the water and not be able to swim in it or anything," Snyder said.

Some law firms have already filed suit against TVA, including at least one lawsuit that already seeks class action status. One Rockwood attorney called Weitz and Luxenberg's meeting a flat-out sales pitch. He questioned the firm's ethical motives behind the meeting.

However, the audience of homeowners applauded when the questioning attorney sat down again.