A recent PG&E Lawsuit has resulted in a proposed $13.5 billion settlement for victims of several California wildfires blamed on the utility company.

The recent PG&E lawsuit settlement covers victims harmed by several wildfires in California since 2017, including the Camp Fire, which destroyed almost the entire town of Paradise. California fires linked to faulty PG&E equipment destroyed thousands of homes and businesses, and resulted in the deaths of dozens of people.

PG&E filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection due to the massive amounts of claims filed against the utilities company by residents and property owners harmed by the fires.

PG&E Lawsuit Linked Company to Several California Wildfires

Investigations into the causes of the Camp Fire, the Tubbs Fire, the Ghost Ship Fire, and the Butte Fire have all indicated that faulty equipment owned by PG&E was at least a contributory cause.

According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the California Public Utilities Commission, PG&E equipment was likely to be responsible for the Camp Fire, which killed 86 people and destroyed almost 14,000 homes and other structures.

An investigation into the Camp Fire revealed PG&E company had failed for years to do climbing inspections of towers to ensure that the equipment was functioning properly. Electrical equipment that is not regularly inspected and maintained may malfunction and release sparks. Due to the dry vegetation covering much of California’s landscape, any stray sparks may trigger massive wildfires.

Before this latest settlement agreement, PG&E had already agreed to pay out $1 billion to public entities including cities and counties, as well as $11 billion to insurance companies to cover claims that had already been paid out. Victims who have been harmed by one of the fires covered by the settlement have until December 31 to file their initial claims for a portion of the compensation.

PG&E Cuts Power in an Attempt to Prevent Future Fires

In an attempt to reduce the risk of future fires, PG&E has taken a controversial approach. According to California residents, many of whom are victims of previous PG&E-related fires, the utilities company has repeatedly cut power to millions of California residents. Although PG&E claims that power cuts are a quick and efficient way of preventing fires from breaking out, victims are speaking out against this course of action.

According to one victim who spoke to PBS last month, the company turned off her power five times. Each time the company turned off her power, she had to pay to replace almost all of the food in her refrigerator that had spoiled. As her home of nearly two decades had been destroyed in the PG&E-caused Camp Fire, these extra costs were additionally painful.

Victims who have suffered from property damage, injuries, or lost wages due to California fires caused by Pacific Gas & Electric may be eligible to hire a qualified attorney to seek compensation from the utilities company. Victims who file a PG&E lawsuit may be able to collect compensation for these damages.

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