Gerald Singleton, Managing Partner at Singleton Schreiber in San Diego, was recently featured by Reuters in their article, "California Utility Faces Billions in Claims for Fire Damage Even if It Did Nothing Wrong".
The article provides an overview of the deadly Palisades and Eaton Fires in Los Angeles and how residents have begun filing lawsuits against Southern California Edison (SCE) who are accused of causing the fires, resulting in billions of dollars in damages for businesses and property owners, the loss of over 6,000 structures, and the deaths of at least 24 people.
The article also provides an overview of the basis for the claims, citing SCE for failing to properly maintain its transmission and distribution lines and that "inverse condemnation", a unique California legal doctrine that allows victims to collect compensation from their power utility if its equipment caused the blaze even if the company did nothing wrong.
According to Mr. Schreiber, if plaintiffs can provide negligence, then they can also get damages for personal injury and wrongful death as well.
"There are times where a utility will say that their equipment started it, but they weren't negligent. That's very rare," Mr. Singleton said.
