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Southern California Edison Eaton Fire lawsuits

If you believe you or a loved one has suffered health issues or lost property as a result of the Eaton Fire, you may have legal options to seek compensation. Your journey toward justice starts here.

Start Your FREE Case Review (855) LIA-5555

Who may qualify for the fire lawsuits against Southern California Edison?

Qualifications for Eaton Fire lawsuits.

Can you start an SCE lawsuit? You may be owed compensation if you suffered losses. You may be able to file a claim if you can:

  • Demonstrate that SCE failed to maintain its infrastructure, clear vegetation or not shut power in a safe and timely manner.
  • Directly tie their infrastructure to the start of the fire. That is where the video evidence of alleged sparking SCE equipment is invaluable.
  • Document your damages, including value of property lost, medical costs, lost income, evacuation and alternative living expenses, business losses and emotional distress.
  • File within the legally mandated deadlines.
See If You Qualify (855) LIA-5555
Qualifications for Eaton Fire lawsuits.

How to start your Eaton Fire claim:

  1. 1

    Fill out the form to see if your claim qualifies.

    Fill out the form or call us at (855) LIA-5555.

    Start your Eaton Fire claim by completing our online form or giving us a call to share basic details about your claim.

  2. 2

    The Legal Injury Advocates team, together with our co-counsel Andrews & Thornton, will help you with the next steps.

    Share your story with our team.

    Our team will listen to your Eaton Fire story, answer questions and assess whether your claim may qualify for legal action.

  3. 3

    Our legal team will review your claim.

    Let our legal team review your claim.

    An experienced attorney will review your Eaton Fire claim and discuss next steps.

  4. 4

    We’ll help you gather records and documents to prepare for your case.

    Prepare for your case.

    You may need to submit medical records or important documents to help your attorney evaluate the extent of harm caused in the Eaton fire. We’ll discuss this with you.

  5. 5

    If you’re qualified, you will begin on your journey to justice.

    Start your journey to justice.

    If your claim qualifies, our legal team will guide you through the legal process to seek compensation and accountability for those responsible for your losses in the Eaton Fire.

Check If You Qualify

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Will insurance cover the total rebuilding costs of the Eaton Fire?

Is insurance enough to replace losses following a wildfire?

Will insurance cover the total rebuilding costs of the Eaton Fire?

Insurance, if you have it, is unlikely to cover your real losses from the Eaton Fire.

Many insurance companies have been cutting coverage in the state or have left altogether.

You may need legal help in dealing with your insurance claims.

Can insurance alone cover rebuilding Altadena after the Eaton Fire?

Can insurance alone cover rebuilding Altadena after the Eaton Fire?

If you are lucky enough to have insurance and successfully make claims, you may not have enough money to rebuild. People in previous fires found themselves underinsured.

Given the extent of the damage, it will take time to rebuild and rebuilding depends on cities restoring infrastructure. The costs may be staggering.

Uninsured after the Eaton Fire?

Uninsured after the Eaton Fire?

If you have no fire insurance or are underinsured, an SCE lawsuit may be the only way you can recover from your financial losses.

With insurance companies pulling out of the state in the months and years leading up to the fire, not having adequate insurance is really not your fault.

Yet, you still need money to rebuild or relocate, and you most likely have lost belongings, time at work to earn money and more. Add in medical costs and emotional distress, and your losses are considerable.

A successful SCE lawsuit may be your best option to get compensation and justice from a loss that is in no way your fault.

Companies involved in the Eaton Fire lawsuits

Companies involved in the Eaton Fire lawsuits

Southern California Edison, as its name suggests, serves large areas of Southern California, including much of Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Inyo, Tulare and Mono Counties. It also serves some parts of Santa Barbara County and Fresno County.

The utility generates and distributes electricity, as well as maintaining the grid, that is the powerlines, transformers and substations that are involved in bringing power to your house.

They have a legal and regulatory responsibility to prevent wildfires and protect wildlife in their service area. That means maintaining equipment, upgrading safety and clearing flammable brush. They also must maintain monitoring equipment so that any safety issues can be dealt with quickly.

If SCE is found to be responsible for the Eaton Fire, it will not have been the first time. The utility had to pay $2.7 billion in claims for the 2017 Thomas Fire and $2.2 billion to insurance companies for the 2018 Woolsey Fire. Litigation for the 2020 Bobcat Fire is still ongoing. Settlement amounts are for loss of property, medical bills, loss of use, business losses and more..

Start Your FREE Case Review (855) LIA-5555
Companies involved in the Eaton Fire lawsuits

Key events in the Eaton Fire and lawsuits over SCE’s involvement

Two of the state’s deadliest and most devastating wildfires started within hours and within miles of each other. Here is a timeline of the key events.

  1. January 7, 2025 at 10:30 a.m.: Outbreak of Palisades Fire

    The Palisades Fire appears to have started around 10:30 a.m. with first sightings reported. Evacuation orders were first given at 11:44 a.m.

  2. January 7, 2025 at 6:11 p.m.: Eaton Fire begins

    The fire started at 6:11 p.m. below an SCE pylon. Residents noticed the Eaton Fire already spreading at 6:15 p.m.

  3. January 8, 2025: Expansion of the fires and evacuations

    By the morning of day two, the Palisades Fire was raging across over 3,000 acres and the Eaton Fire sprawled across 1,000 acres, driven by wind gusts topping 100 mph. News reports showed block after block of homes and businesses in flames. The Palisades Fire would eventually consume 23,713 acres, and the Eaton Fire 14,021 acres.

  4. January 12, 2025: SCE equipment suspected of starting Eaton Fire

    An Altadena couple released Ring camera footage they retrieved after returning to their home. It showed a fire raging around the base of a power line pylon. Two days before, SCE reported there was no evidence their equipment was involved. A week or so later, surveillance footage from a nearby Arco gas station shows a different angle of the sparking transmission tower.

  5. January 13, 2025: Lawsuit filed against SCE claiming faulty equipment and procedures sparked the Eaton Fire

    The first Southern California Edison lawsuit was filed while the fire was still raging.

  6. January 27, 2025: Electrical fault discovered

    SCE found a fault on a “distant line” that was 12 circuit miles away from where the fire is believed to have started. A photograph of the fire first igniting was released by a resident, however, suggesting clear evidence of SCE equipment being involved. A judge ordered the utility to preserve equipment within a square mile west of Eaton Canyon as the investigation of the cause of the fire continues.

  7. January 31, 2025: Fire is 100% contained

    The fire was finally contained on January 31, 2025.

  8. February 7, 2025: New theory emerges

    SCE announced it was exploring the possibility that an abandoned and unused power line became momentarily energized during the high winds and subsequently arced due to improper or degraded grounding.

Reasons to work with an Eaton Fire lawyer

Receiving compensation and justice for your losses due to the Eaton Fire is a long and complex process. Working with an experienced wildfire attorney can increase your chances of succeeding and can make the process easier.

First, you will need to prove that SCE is responsible for the fire and provide ample evidence to back up your claim. Second, you will need to accurately and fully account for your losses. Knowing what documentation to gather is not always straightforward. A lawyer who has done this before in previous fires can be extremely helpful when filing your Eaton Fire lawsuit.

Why California wildfire victims trust Legal Injury Advocates and Andrews and Thornton

Why California wildfire victims trust Legal Injury Advocates and Andrews & Thornton

Why California wildfire victims trust Legal Injury Advocates and Andrews and Thornton

Free Initial Case Review

We’ll review your claim for free—no upfront costs, no risk.

Clear, Honest Communication

We, along with our co-counsel, will keep you informed every step of the way with straightforward, honest updates.

No Fee Unless You Win

You don’t pay anything unless we win your case—no risk, no obligation.

Initial Eligibility Check

Call us at (855) LIA-5555 or fill out the form to see if you qualify.

Proven Results

Our experienced legal team and co-counsel have spent decades winning cases like yours.

You may have a strong Eaton Fire claim, but time may be limited to file. Contact us to see if you qualify:

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Pay Only If We Win

FAQs

  • Why are residents who lost property in the Eaton Fire filing lawsuits against Southern California Edison?

    Early evidence points to downed power lines sparking and igniting the Eaton Fire that raged across the area from January 7–31, 2025.

    Southern California Edison (SCE) operates the power infrastructure in the area of Los Angeles County and beyond. The utility has regulatory and legal responsibility to safely maintain its power lines, inspecting, repairing and upgrading them to prevent wind damage that could spark fires. Additionally, they are required to remove flammable trees and brush under and around power lines. During extreme weather, such as the predicted Santa Ana winds, they are required to shut off power in high-risk areas.

    It is believed that the utility may have failed on one, two or all of these fronts. Residents who lost their homes, vehicles and other belongings, who lost loved ones and pets, were injured or who lost a business are suing the responsible parties.

    In this case, that means suing SCE and possibly the Cities of Altadena and Pasadena, and Los Angeles County. Victims of previous fires have successfully sued SCE, however suing government entities is much more difficult. They are potentially protected by a legal idea called the doctrine of sovereign immunity, meaning they have to agree to be sued. California law also says that local governments are protected unless there is clear misconduct and extreme negligence. You can, however, potentially file a claim under the state’s Government Claims Act.

    Investigations as to the cause of the Eaton Fire are ongoing. Calls from area residents reporting the fire under SCE power lines, and video of the initial sparks do suggest the company’s equipment may have been involved. Eaton Fire lawsuits have already started.

  • Have electric utilities like SCE been found liable for starting California wildfires before?

    The cause of the Eaton Fire is still under active investigation. The utility has not yet been found liable. People are filing lawsuits now, however, without waiting for the completion of investigations. Enough evidence has emerged to make a strong link between SCE equipment and the start of the fire. The cause and ultimate responsibility will emerge as investigations wrap up and as cases work their way through the courts. However, SCE has been found liable for starting wildfires in the past and has paid out settlements for related lawsuits, such as the 2017 Thomas Fire and the 2018 Woolsey Fire.

  • Do you have to be a homeowner to be eligible for an SCE Eaton Fire lawsuit?

    No, you can sue and win, even if you did not own your home. If a fire destroyed your rental property, you are still left with nowhere to live, lost your personal property, possibly suffered physical harm and emotional distress and may have suffered lost income if your workplace was destroyed or you were displaced. You will need to document your losses and prove that SCE was negligent in an SCE lawsuit related to the Eaton Fire.

  • What has SCE claimed about the cause of the Eaton Fire?

    After initially denying any evidence that their equipment was involved in starting the fire, SCE later disclosed an idle line may have sparked the fire. Some are saying the utility is destroying evidence. SCE released an interim update on the Eaton Fire on January 27, detailing its cooperation with the ongoing investigation.

Contact the Legal Injury Advocates and Andrews & Thornton

Get My FREE Case Review (855) LIA-5555
No Obligations
Pay Only If We Win