
California Fire Legal Updates

April 21 - SCE Removes Equipment Near Eaton Fire Site Amid Ongoing Lawsuits
Southern California Edison (SCE) crews have started removing electrical towers and power lines from the Eaton Fire burn area in Pasadena and Altadena

April 21 - Lawsuits Allege Insurers Colluded to Drop Coverage in Fire-Prone Areas
Two new lawsuits filed in Los Angeles claim that major home insurance companies, including State Farm, worked together to stop offering coverage in California areas at high risk for wildfires.

April 17 - Eaton Fire Victims Demand Investigation into State Farm for Claim Delays
Victims of the Eaton fire are calling for an official investigation into State Farm’s handling of claims related to the devastating wildfire. Eaton fire victims continue to allege that the insurance company has delayed, denied, and mishandled claims, leaving survivors struggling with toxic damage and unable to rebuild.

April 10 - Soil Contamination Found Near Eaton and Palisades Fires
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has finally shared preliminary results from soil testing from around the Eaton and Palisades fire burn zones.

April 10 - Judge Weighs State Farm Rate Hike Amid Financial Concerns
State Farm is one step closer to raising California insurance premiums after the public hearing concluded this week.

April 8 - State Farm Faces Public Hearing Over Emergency Rate Hike Request
State Farm began a rare and urgent public hearing today to justify its request for emergency property insurance rate increases in California—22% for homeowners, 15% for renters and condos, and 38% for rental dwellings.

March 27 – LADWP Sued Over Palisades Fire + Debris Removal Deadline
A group of Los Angeles and Malibu homeowners has, filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power(LADWP), claiming the utility’s power lines caused the destructive Palisades Fire in January 2025.

March 17 – Attorneys appointed to lead consolidated Eaton Fire litigation against SCE
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Laura Seigle has approved a team of over 50 law firms to lead more than 130 lawsuits against Southern California Edison for its role in the Eaton Fire.

March 14 - State Farm Rate Hike Hinges on Public Hearing and Policyholder Protections
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced that State Farm may raise home insurance rates by an average of 22%, but only if it agrees to pause policy cancellations and proves the rate hike is necessary at a public hearing on April 8.

March 5 – LA County and Cities Sue Edison Over Eaton Fire
Los Angeles County and the cities of Pasadena and Sierra Madre have filed lawsuits against Southern California Edison, claiming the equipment caused the Eaton Fire.

February 6 – More Evidence of SCE’s Role in the Fire
New evidence from drones, long-distance camera lenses and metal detectors, continues to build against Southern California Edison (SCE) as more than 40 lawsuits allege the utility’s equipment sparked the devastating Eaton Fire.

January 28 – Video Surfaces Tied to Fire’s Origin
A newly surfaced gas station security video may be the most direct evidence yet linking Southern California Edison to the deadly Eaton Fire.

January 22 – Judge Orders Edison to Preserve Data and Equipment
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Ashfaq Chowdhury ordered Southern California Edison and its parent company, Edison International, to preserve specific equipment and produce data from electrical circuits near the origin of the Eaton Fire.

January 13 – LA Utility Sued for Water Failure During Palisades Fire
A lawsuit was filed against the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), accusing the utility of failing to supply enough water to fight the massive Palisades Fire.

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.

January 10 - Insurance Challenges Mount for LA Fire Victims
Homeowners impacted by the devastating Los Angeles-area fires now face a second hardship: battling insurance companies for fair payouts. Many victims are encountering complex policies, low-ball offers from claims adjusters, and computer programs designed to minimize payments.

January 9 – Insurance Moratorium Announced
As emergency evacuations continue across Los Angeles County, California Department of Insurance announced that Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued a one-year moratorium on homeowner insurance policy cancellations and non-renewals in impacted ZIP Codes.