January 13 – First Lawsuits Filed Against Southern California Edison

The first lawsuit against Southern California Edison (SCE) was filed on January 13 by Jeremy Gursey, who lost his home in the Eaton Fire. Gursey claims the utility company is responsible for starting the blaze, citing photos taken by nearby residents that show a small fire beneath an SCE transmission tower in Eaton Canyon shortly before the fire spread. More lawsuits followed in the days after, all accusing SCE of failing to shut off power lines despite red flag wind warnings. Legal experts believe more victims will come forward as evidence mounts. A similar case in the past led to a $4 billion wildfire settlement, highlighting the potential scope of liability.