In the wake of several devastating mudslides that claimed the lives of 20 people, questions naturally arose as to the origin of these slides and whether they could have been prevented in the first place. Accordingly, two utility companies, Montecito Water District and Southern California Edison, have become the target of a negligence suit involving personal injury. Although calculations as to property damage and loss of life remain inconclusive, Los Angeles, California attorney Peter J. Bezek believes damages could amount to over $1 billion.
According to the lawsuit, two transformers belonging to Southern California Edison exploded on December 4, 2017. The resulting fires from each transformer merged, which subsequently burned a great deal of vegetation. The suit filed by attorney Bezek claims that the nine mudslides that occurred on January 9, 2018 would not have taken place had the vegetation that holds the soil in place not have burned in the December fire. Additionally, the suit claims that Montecito Water District did not have sufficient safeguards to stop the flow of water when a major water tank burst, causing 8 million gallons of water to slide down into the town of Montecito.
While the December fire burned for over a month and resulted in the destruction of over 1,000 homes, the mudslides caused far more damage to human life, although it also caused significant property damage. While several additional suits have been filed, Southern California Edison noted that talk of litigation is premature, as the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is still investigating the cause of the fire. If the transformers are indeed the cause of the fire, liability for SCE, as noted above, could be enormous.
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of negligent performance by a utility company, you may be entitled to significant monetary damages. To discuss your potential negligence claim, act now and contact one of our expert wrongful death attorney specialists and property damage lawyers here at the Law Offices of Gilbert R. Hoy, Jr. and Affiliates. Call us today at 617-787-3700 or email us at info@gilhoylaw.com for your free and private consultation. Your needs are our top priority!
