The schedule has been set for the first few trials in the California wildfire lawsuits. These cases will be in court in early 2020, but only represent a handful of the claims that were filed in the wake of the wildfires that spread throughout the region.

These California wildfire cases are referred to as bellwether claims. These types of cases are tried first in major lawsuits because they can show both sides in the lawsuits how the courts might react in future claims. This can lead to settlements that affect all of those who brought legal claims.

Thousands of plaintiffs initiated California wildfire lawsuits after discovering that Southern California Edison’s negligence and maintenance issues started the blazes that consumed and destroyed plenty of property.

Other plaintiffs with California wildfire lawsuits say that even the mudslides that swept through Montecito can be traced back to the Thomas Fire and the negligence tied to that incident. The first trials in that set of lawsuits have been scheduled for mid-2020 according to VC Star.

California has a strong history of power lines in certain areas causing wildfires. In many cases, it falls to the electric company managing those lines to come out for regular maintenance and to flag problems before a fire starts. However, many residents are concerned after last year’s wildfires spread so quickly and caused such significant damage.

This summer, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. has received approval to cut power to portions of their market in areas considered at high risk for fire. The California Public Utilities Commission says this is necessary to help reduce the risk of major wildfires, especially since so many past fires have been connected to power lines, reports CNBC.

State regulators and legislators are attempting to steady the state for serious wildfires since the 2017 and 2018 seasons were so hard on the communities in high-risk areas.

Those proactive steps, however, don’t do anything to help those customers who were harmed by last year’s events. PG&E has already filed for bankruptcy after they were hit with the wave of lawsuits from consumers who blame the power company for the wreckage from last summer.

Power companies have the responsibility to clear branches and other obstructions that could heighten the risk of a spark catching from a power line. Failure to do so could lead to lawsuits if wildfires do begin.

Those utility companies could be held liable under inverse condemnation laws as well as negligence claims associated with specific wildfires in California.

PG&E already has to pay $1 billion to government entities for the damage caused last year according to NBC News. More than 13,000 homes were destroyed in addition to the 85 lives lost.

Those who have already experienced property damage from a fire in California might be interested in speaking with an attorney about their individual case. Since the damage caused by these fires was so severe, consumers could be able to participate in their own legal action associated with the wildfires.

The first step could be talking to an attorney about eligibility and Top Class Actions can connect you with an experienced lawyer.

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