At least 14 lawsuits filed in recent weeks by those affected by the deadly Eaton Fire argue that Southern California Edison’s equipment helped to spark some of the initial flames and that the utility bears some responsibility for the devastation that followed.
Two of the lawsuits were filed by Florida-based plaintiffs’ attorney Ben Crump. In one case, Evelyn Cathirell, the mother of one of the 17 people who died in the Eaton Fire in Altadena, is suing SCE for failing to take preventative actions before anticipated Santa Ana winds.
“Crump’s complaint, which was joined by Andrews & Thornton in Newport Beach … claims Southern California Edison and its parent company, Edison International, failed to de-energize all its transmission towers or clear vegetation in the days before anticipated Santa Ana winds, which reached 100 miles per hour the night of the Eaton Fire,” a news release from Crump’s law firm states.
The lawsuit painted a grim picture of fire victim Evelyn McClendon’s final hours, describing a scene of panic and chaos.
““The surroundings were straight out of a disaster movie with embers blowing freely in the wind, spot fires sprouting up in all directions, and a ceaseless wind,” the lawsuit states.
Another lawsuit was filed by the NAACP and the Singleton Schreiber law firm on behalf of members of the Mahone family, whose Altadena-area home was destroyed by the Eaton Fire. The complaint, which was filed Jan. 16 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleged that devastation the family endured was due to SCE negligence.
“The Eaton Fire began when electrical equipment within Southern California Edison Company’s utility infrastructure contacted, or caused sparks to contact, surrounding vegetation,” the lawsuit states.
The complaint goes on to allege that the utility negligently failed to property inspect, repair and operate its electrical equipment and that SCE failed to maintain proper clearance between the equipment or infrastructure and neighboring vegetation.
The utility should have to pay punitive damages in an amount that punishes SCE officials for “despicable and oppressive conduct,” the lawsuit says.
“Defendants’ negligence was a substantial factor in causing plaintiffs to suffer economic and non-economic damages, including destruction of and damage to real property, destruction of and damage to structures, destruction of and damage to personal property and cherished possessions, discomfort, annoyance, inconvenience, mental anguish, loss of quiet enjoyment, and emotional distress,” the complaint goes on to say.
A spokesperson for SCE emphasized in a statement provided to the Southern California Record that how the Eaton Fire unfolded has yet to be determined.
“Our hearts remain with our communities affected by devastating fires in Southern California, and we remain committed to supporting them through this difficult time,” the spokesperson said. “SCE crews, contractors and mutual-assistance partners are dedicated to safely restoring power to our customers. SCE is reviewing lawsuits related to the Eaton Fire. The cause of the fire continues to be under investigation.”
New York-based Fitch Ratings reported last week that SCE and parent company Edison International’s issuer default rating (IDR) stood at “BBB,” meaning that the company has good credit and a low risk of default.
But Fitch also cautioned that as a result of the fire damage in SCE’s service area, projected liabilities could exceed the historical norm in the state.
“... If SCE equipment was involved in igniting (the) Eaton fire, the utility could face substantial third-party liabilities, which could lead to a negative rating action,” Fitch reported on Jan. 17. “At this point there is no indication that SCE's transmission lines caused the fire based on the SCE's preliminary analysis of electrical circuit information in the area.”