Camp Fire Lawsuit | Butte County, California | Camp Fire Attorneys

Camp Fire Lawsuit

Camp Fire Attorneys – Butte County, California

*Court-approved deadline for fire claimants to file claims against PG&E has been extended to December 31 at 5:00 p.m. (Pacific Time). File a claim for a large cash settlement in addition to your FEMA assistance. Victims are encouraged to apply because of the unknown economic status of PG&E. If you wait, you can be left with nothing. Call Now 530-212-7582

The Camp Fire was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history to date. The fire started on Nov. 8, 2018, in Butte County, California. Utility companies such as PG&E are held to the highest standard when it comes to damages on life and property. The fire caused at least 85 civilian fatalities and destroyed 18,804 structures. 

Our Camp Fire Lawyers at Potter Handy, LLP and Ray Quinney & Nebeker, PC have significant experience in representing victims of California wildfires. With over 20 years of litigation experience, our wildfire attorneys have successfully represented over 1000 plaintiffs who have been adversely affected by wildfires. These plaintiffs have recovered approximately $350 million in claims. 

History of PG&E Incidents and Settlements

  • 1994 – Trauner Fire: PG&E was convicted of 739 criminal negligence charges for failing to trim trees near its power lines. The untrimmed trees have been said to be the main reason for the Trauner Fire. This resulted in fines of $2 million. The fire began in August 1994, burning a dozen homes, and a school in a small town in Nevada County. 
  • 1999 – Pendola Fire: PG&E settled a case for $14.75 million against the United States Forest Service. The Pendola Fire began on Oct. 16, 1999, burning nearly 12,000 acres of the Tahoe and Plumas National Forests over 11 days. The fire was blamed on poor vegetation management and inspection programs. 
  • 2004 – Sims Fire and Fred’s Fire: PG&E and two of its subcontractors, Western Environmental Consultants and Davey Tree Expert Co., settled federal lawsuits blaming them for the Sims and Fred’s Fires, each burning more than 4,000 acres of federal forest land. PG&E agreed to pay $6.1 million of the $29.5 million settlement. 
  • 2008 – Rancho Cordova Gas Explosion: During a 2006 repair, PG&E was found to have installed an incorrect pipe that resulted in the 2008 explosion, killing one person and injuring five others on Christmas Eve. PG&E paid the family a $38 million fine as well as an undisclosed, out-of-court settlement. 
  • 2010 – San Bruno Pipeline Explosion: The San Bruno Pipeline Explosion resulted in the deaths of eight people with twelve others injured. In 2017, PG&E was sentenced to five years of probation, $3 million in fines and community service. The CPUC also fined PG&E for $1.6 billion. PG&E agreed to pay settlements for about $565 million to the victims of the explosion. 
  • 2015 – Butte Fire: PG&E electrical wire made contact with a downed tree, sparking the Butte Fire on Sept. 9, 2015, which burned over 70,000 acres, destroyed 365 homes and killed two people. A Sacramento judge ruled PG&E to be at fault. The CPUC fined PG&E for about $8 million. 
  • 2018 – Camp Fire: The Camp Fire was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history to date. The fire started on Nov. 8, 2018, in Butte County, Northern California. The fire caused at least 85 civilian fatalities and destroyed 18,804 structures. It covered an area of 153,336 acres, with total damages of $16.5 billion. 

Camp Fire Lawsuit – Compensation You Can Seek

While each case is different, common damage categories include:  

  • Business losses 
  • Damage to trees, timber, or underwood 
  • Depreciation in the value of your land 
  • Emotional distress 
  • Harm to pets or livestock 
  • Loss of crops 
  • Lost wages 
  • Personal injury 
  • The cost to repair or replace your home and personal property 
  • The loss of use and enjoyment of your property 
  • Wrongful death 

You may be entitled to damages that your insurance – even good insurance — won’t cover. In addition to underinsured homes, most insurance policies don’t cover vegetation that is not part of the landscaping, natural vegetation or compensation for you or your family for the upheaval caused by the utility-company-related Camp Fire. The law provides for more compensation than most people realize.

Learn more about Smoke, Soot, and Ash damage from a Wildfire.

When our Camp Fire Lawyers take on a case, we are consciously thorough in our investigations. We must be sure that we have identified all of your damages and accurately calculated them. We will not be satisfied with a case outcome unless you get every last penny you deserve from the parties responsible for the destructive Camp Fire. 

When is the deadline for filing a Camp Fire Claim?

The judge overseeing the lawsuits against PG&E has extended the deadline to file claims related to wildfire losses to December 31, 2019. We encourage recent fire survivors to consult with a Camp Fire Attorney in a timely manner.

Our Camp Fire Attorneys can help you document your losses for purposes of the PG&E Camp Fire Lawsuit, as well as offer guidance on insurance and other matters that might arise. 

Affected by the Camp Fire? Review Your Claim with a Camp Fire Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been a victim of a utility-company-related wildfire, we will seek damages on your behalf for the losses you have incurred with absolutely no out-of-pocket expenses from you. 

Call Now 530-212-7582

To learn more visit CampFireLegalCenter.com