May 29, 2008 - Potential Lawsuits Sparked by CA Wildfires
San Diego Gas & Electric Co. may face the City of San Diego in a legal battle over costs related to wildfires in Guejito and Witch Creek that occurred in 2007.
An attorney for the City of San Diego is planning on recommending that a lawsuit be filed against the utility company for up to $20 million in damages and cleanup costs related to the fires. SDG&E has already filed a claim against the city, which suggests that the city should share liability for legal actions in connection with the fire.
Eight lawsuits have been filed against the utility, involving hundreds of individuals who suffered damage to their homes, ranches and other property in relation to the fires, which are believed to have been ignited by power lines and other equipment maintained by SDG&E.
CalFire plans to seek to recover firefighting costs if SDG&E are officially found to be responsible for the fires, which destroyed an estimated 2,000 homes and other property and cost $25 million to extinguish. The fires also killed two people.
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