A major SoCal Edison lawsuit filed by state agencies over the Thomas and Woolsey Fires has been settled for $360 million. The settlement also includes damages for the Montecito mudslide that resulted in part from the aftermath of the Thomas Fire.

According to plaintiffs’ counsel, it is the first settlement to be reached in litigation over these wildfires, which took place in 2017 and 2018.

The SoCal Edison Lawsuit: Cause of Action #1

The Thomas Fire struck Ventura and Santa Barbara counties on December 4th, 2017, starting out as two separate blazes. The first one started around 6:30 PM in Santa Paula Canyon; the second ignited at a location approximately four miles away a half-hour later.

According to residents who were living near the second location, a transformer owned and operated by SoCal Edison exploded. An investigation by Ventura County fire officials and the California Department of Forestry later confirmed that the fire started when two live power lines came into contact, causing sparks to fall on dry vegetation.

By the time the Thomas fire was contained, nearly 1,100 buildings were destroyed; property losses came to more than $120 million. An additional 436 homes were either lost or damaged in the consequent Montecito mudslide on January 9th, 2018, caused by the loss of vegetation combined with heavy rainfall.

The SoCal Edison Lawsuit: Cause of Action #2

The Woolsey Fire started on November 8th, 2018, ultimately burning nearly 97,000 acres in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. That fire appears to have started around 2:30 in the afternoon near the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, after SoCal Edison reported an outage out of a nearby substation.

Approximately 1,600 buildings were destroyed in the Woolsey Fire as well as a number of historical sites, two rehab facilities and three summer camps. Although officials have not been specific, they believe that SoCal Edison equipment was responsible for the conflagration.

At least one witness reported seeing flames near SoCal Edison equipment near the location where the fire was first reported. Inspectors for the utility company later acknowledged finding a pole support wire near an electrical wire that had been live before the power outage that preceded the fire.

The Settlement

$150 million of the settlement will go toward losses due to the Thomas Fire, while the remaining $210 million will cover the Woolsey Fire, according to plaintiff’s lawyers. The settlement, which was the result of mediation over several days, does not affect private individuals who suffered losses. These plaintiffs are represented by different counsel and are pursuing their own SoCal Edison lawsuit.

In agreeing to the settlement, SoCal Edison admits to no wrongdoing on its part. However, company spokesperson said that this resolution “represents a compromise that recognizes the risks of litigation.” Pedro J. Pizarro, CEO of Edison International, has promised that its subsidiary will “…continue to make substantial investments in our system and enhance our operational practices to reduce the risk of wildfires in our service area.”

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.