A civil rights attorney, Ben Crump, has filed one of the first wrongful death lawsuits against electric utility company Southern California Edison in connection with the devastating Eaton Fire. The lawsuit alleges that SoCal Edison's aging electrical equipment and infrastructure failed, sparking a vegetation fire in Eaton Canyon. This failure is attributed to a 'disregard of mandated safety practices and foreseeable hazardous risks associated with its infrastructure,' which resulted in the tragic loss of at least 17 lives in Altadena.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of fire victim Evelyn McClendon's family, claims that SoCal Edison neglected to power down its electrical equipment despite receiving warnings from the National Weather Service four days prior about a 'Fire Weather Watch.' Furthermore, the power company is accused of failing to adequately inspect and manage its equipment and the surrounding vegetation near power lines. It is also alleged that SoCal Edison did not ensure that contractors were properly trained in tree inspections and removal.
