After PG&E filed for bankruptcy because of the California wildfires that led to tens of billions of dollars in liability for the utility company, only an estimated 30,000 people submitted paperwork by the initial deadline in October to claim compensation. However, there may have been tens of thousands more fire victims eligible to file claims for their property damage, injuries, and suffering. Because of this, the bankruptcy court gave victims more time to file, extending the deadline to Dec. 31, 2019.

“All I’m saying is it would be a heartbreaking shame if even 10 percent of the eligible victims don’t file claims for whatever reason,” said the judge dealing with the bankruptcy case, James Donato. “If we’re talking about 50 percent not filing, that’s—that’s intolerable.”

California Wildfires

Over the last couple of years, Northern California has been ravaged by a slew of major wildfires that caused serious property damage, some of which led to severe injuries and even death. For instance, the Camp Fire in the town of Paradise essentially destroyed the town, killing dozens of people.

However, fire victims who should clearly be eligible to file a claim for their losses may have had difficulty doing so.

In the wake of the kind of destruction California wildfires caused, people may not know what to do, or how to approach the next step to get compensation. Some may be injured or traumatized, dealing with the death of a loved one, trying to find alternative housing in the wake of the damage, or dealing with homeowners insurance. Many did not realize they could file a claim against the utility as well.

The judge noted that, in an effort to make sure as many people as possible were reached and informed of their eligibility to file PG&E claims for the utility company’s role in various California fires, “someone should be going door to door.” In that spirit, the court overseeing the case chose the accountant Michael Kasolas to track down eligible victims of California wildfires.

Michael says that he has mailed tens of thousands of fliers, published advertisements across media outlets in print and online, and posted to social media in an attempt to find those who were eligible for the billions in PG&E settlement funds and alert them of what they need to do. But some were not so easy to find.

The fires left some people homeless, and others moved away to stay with family or friends while they attempted to pull their lives together. Others may have been hospitalized. And now the deadline has passed.

If you were affected by one of the recent Pacific Gas and Electric fires in California, you may be able to receive further compensation, even though the deadline for making PG&E claims has unfortunately passed. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation. Even if you have already received compensation, you may not have received all the compensation you’re due.

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