On October 8, 2017, the North Bay Fires of California started on their path of destruction, taking out every structure along the way – from homes, to businesses and so much more. This caused extensive damages on an enormous level throughout various counties, burning about 220,000 acres altogether and destroying more than 8,400 structures. Along with this, nothing could account for the 40 or more lives lost to the fires.
In the past, there have been a variety of similar cases heard in California, but none quite like this. Two of these include the BP oil spill and the 2015 Butte Fires. Unfortunately, all of these cases led to the loss of life, billions of dollars in destruction, and devastation that would last for many months and years to come. Because of the entry of the wildfires, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Curtis Karnow decided to move forward with a ruling to coordinate all North Bay Fire-related matters in court, to be brought against the Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E). To this date, over 50 lawsuits have been filed against PG&E Corporation, as they are being blamed for their role in the North Bay Fires.
The PG&E Lawsuits
Many people are now filing suit against PG&E, which has evolved into a 50-page lawsuit against several victims blaming the company for their negligence that could have led to the fires, which not only displaced thousands of people but also took many lives. The lawsuit asserts that the company had an ‘inadequate vegetation management program’ that allowed circuit-breaking type devices to reset in order to restore electric services. Many other utility companies do not practice this service because of the potential of wildfires.
There are several advantages when it comes to coordinating cases, as it can lead to quicker proceedings when it comes to compensating the losses of many. In the order, in fact, it has been stated that coordinating cases is convenient for all parties involved, helps avoid disadvantages of duplicative rulings, prevents inconsistencies, and so much more. Baron & Baron Shareholder, Scott Summy, reported saying, “We know from decades of experience that it is much more efficient to litigate these complex cases in one courtroom, before one judge. For the victims of the SoCal Fires, time is of the essence.”
Compensating You For Major Losses
There are many reasons why parties are bringing claims after they have been affected drastically by the chaos caused by the Northern California wildfires. The truth is, people didn’t only watch their houses and businesses erupt in flames in front of their eyes, they also suffered physically from burn injuries as well as an array of other injuries caused by smoke inhalation and running to safety. For those who suffered immense losses and burn injuries that could leave a serious impact on lives, legal action may be the only way to find some measure of temporal recovery. There are many attorneys, including out-of-state attorneys, who are seeking to represent clients. Anyone seeking attorney representation should choose a local attorney with a long track record with local issues, including dealing with wildfire loss.
