Litigation Alert: Southern California Edison Faces Multiple Lawsuits Over Eaton Fire
Date: January 28, 2025
Southern California Edison (SCE) is facing additional lawsuits filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleging that the utility is responsible for sparking the devastating Eaton Fire in Altadena, California. The lawsuits claim that SCE’s failure to de-energize power lines during high winds and fire danger led to the fire, which began on January 7, 2025, killing at least 17 people and destroying much of the community.
The complaints accuse SCE of negligence for not taking precautionary measures, such as shutting off power, when weather forecasts warned of dangerous conditions. Plaintiffs cite independent data showing over 250 faults on SCE’s lines in the area of the fire, as well as eyewitness accounts of sparks coming from power transmission towers just before the fire started.
The lawsuits assert multiple causes of action, including negligence, nuisance, and trespass, seeking damages for property loss, personal injuries, and destruction caused by the fire. The plaintiffs are also requesting exemplary damages, citing the utility’s prior involvement in similar incidents, such as the 2017 Thomas Fire and the 2018 Woolsey Fire.
In response, SCE has denied responsibility for the fire, stating that investigators have not yet determined the cause, but agreed to cooperate fully with the investigation. The utility continues to face legal scrutiny, with ongoing efforts to preserve evidence and comply with state regulations.
The cases follow similar legal actions against SCE and other utilities in the aftermath of California’s wildfire season, underscoring ongoing concerns over utility infrastructure and safety in fire-prone areas.
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Sauder Schelkopf is a nationally recognized class action and personal injury law firm. The firm’s partners currently serve as court-appointed lead counsel in courts across the country and have represented clients in the Holiday Farm Fire in Oregon. Our firm was recognized by the Legal Intelligencer’s 2022 Professional Excellence Awards. The Legal Intelligencer’s Professional Excellence Awards honor Pennsylvania law firms and attorneys who have significantly impacted the legal profession. Our firm was named in the Litigation Departments of the Year (Specialty Area category; runner-up), an award that honors the best litigation practice in a small or mid-sized firm in Pennsylvania. This recognition was based on the firm’s 2021 litigation work and its important ongoing cases. LawDragon has recognized our attorneys in its list of the “500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers” for 2022
The attorneys at Sauder Schelkopf have recovered over $500 million on behalf of their clients and class members. Sauder Schelkopf and co-counsel reached a $10.3 million settlement on behalf of businesses impacted by a massive power outage and evacuation caused by a bridge builder on the Outer Banks. Joe Sauder also has a history of environmental litigation where he assisted with the trial of the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant in Colorado, which ultimately resulted in a $375 million settlement.
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