Butte County Files Lawsuit Against PG&E Amidst Bankruptcy Concerns

In Sacramento, Butte County began filing a historic lawsuit against Pacific Gas and Electric Co. concerning the Camp Fire that took the lives of many people, caused injuries in others, and caused extreme property damage that still hasn’t been fully accounted for in California. Deemed one of the deadliest wildfires and also costliest, Butte County continues to suffer due to the negative effects of the fire and will be seeking damages to help rebuild what they call home.

Paradise, California, with its population of 27,000 people just last year, was practically wiped off the map due to the devastation of the Camp Fire. The blaze destroyed approximately 15,000 homes after originally sparking on November 8 and took the lives of 86 people, injuring many more who received illnesses related to smoke inhalation and a variety of burn injuries in some of the most severe cases.

Butte County Seeking Damages  

Individuals who have suffered extreme losses due to this wildfire have already started filing lawsuits against PG&E for their role in the Camp Fire, but Butte County is one of the first lawsuits of its kind following this horrific event that could have been easily prevented, according to many researchers and investigators who are handling this case. The county filed Tuesday with the idea that they are trying to move forward and show the public that they will continue to fight for justice. They are also trying to make taxpayers across the county whole again so that all costs and damages are taken care of.

Butte County is specifically seeking damages to repair damaged or destroyed properties, loss of wages for those who have been unable to return to work due to the destruction, and profits from businesses that have not been able to operate and have caused chaos in the lives of business owners who are now suffering financially. There is no specific monetary amount at this time, but that will be determined at a later time.

PG&E Now Facing Bankruptcy 

The reality of PG&E’s future is that they will be facing bankruptcy as they move forward. The damages continue to pile up and many lawsuits are being filed against the company that they might not be able to afford on their own with just business income alone. This week, PG&E formally announced that they will be filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy by the end of the month, giving 15-day notice so that all involved will understand this is a business decision that has to be made. This means that any lawsuits might receive a ‘stay’ and it could be some time before those in need receive damages to move forward, but it is not an impossible scenario.

What forced PG&E into this situation was the fact that their outright negligence put them approximately $30 billion in liability debt following the Camp Fire. Many people are wondering how this will impact their claims, but attorneys continue to work with those who are struggling to come to terms with their extreme losses.

At Marlene Leiva Law Group, our experienced attorneys understand that you and your loved ones have suffered unmeasurable losses at the hands of PG&E following the Camp Fire. The Butte County Camp Fire lawsuit will allow many individuals to recover the losses they were hoping for after their lives have been turned upside-down by a wildfire that could have been prevented. If you have suffered a variety of serious losses such as personal injuries or an unexpected loss of a loved one, our attorneys are here for you during this emotional time. Contact us today for more information at 415-459-7300.