Law Firm Launches Hotline for Eaton Fire Victims Amid Legal Dispute with Southern California Edison

The Wagner Law Group has launched a new hotline for individuals who suffered property loss due to the Eaton fire, which was likely caused by Southern California Edison. This initiative comes as an attorney representing Edison has refused mediation meetings to resolve over 100 lawsuits filed against the utility company. These legal actions stem from the fire that resulted in 19 fatalities and destroyed much of Altadena.

The Wagner Law Group, which is suing Southern California Edison on behalf of fire victims, expressed alarm over what it describes as the utility company's strategy to prolong the legal process. Butch Wagner of The Wagner Law Group stated, "Delaying the legal process like this is very unethical. What they are basically doing is trying to force people who don't have the resources for a lengthy legal battle to accept extremely small settlements and give up their right to pursue further legal action."

In response, a spokesperson for Southern California Edison said, "Southern California Edison will not be distracted from its focus of first serving those impacted." The Wagner Law Group, which has experience suing utility companies over fires caused by improperly maintained infrastructure, criticized this approach. Wagner added, "This particular situation that SCE is creating is unusually brutal, hiding behind a veil of claiming to help people while intentionally doing harm is completely unreasonable."

The law firm is aware of a draft compensation plan being circulated by Southern California Edison that bases payouts on square footage and extent of damage. Under this draft, owner-occupants of a destroyed 1,500-square-foot home could receive $900,000 in rebuilding compensation, plus $200,000 for program participation and $100,000 per adult for noneconomic damages. The plan also proposes $1.5 million for pain and suffering per death, plus $500,000 for each surviving spouse and eligible dependent, with an additional $5 million premium for using the Edison fund directly.

Wagner condemned these measures, stating, "What Edison is doing is deplorable. They are attempting to pressure people into taking a low-ball settlement and leveraging them by refusing to participate in the legal process any more than they absolutely have to. Southern California Edison has set up a program and pressured people to take part while giving up their right to sue to save their corporation money." The Wagner Law Group is encouraging those affected by the Eaton fire to contact their hotline for assistance. For more information on their legal services, visit https://www.thewagnerlawgroup.com.