County Seeks Damages to Rebuild Taxpayer-Funded Infrastructure, Public and Natural Resources

OROVILLE, Calif.–Today, the national law firm of Baron & Budd announced that it has filed a lawsuit on behalf of Butte County against PG&E Corporation and Pacific Gas And Electric Company, a California Corporation (collectively known as “PG&E”), to recover damages and lost taxpayer resources as a result of the historic Camp Fire, which began on Nov. 8, 2018. The suit was filed in Butte County Superior Court on January 15, 2019 (Case No. 19CV00151).

In the suit, the County alleges that the Camp Fire began when electrical infrastructure owned, operated, and maintained by PG&E failed, causing a spark that ignited the blaze. The suit also alleges that PG&E was aware of the risk associated with the high-voltage power line that is alleged to have caused the Camp Fire prior to when the fire started. Additionally, the suit alleges PG&E planned to de-energize power lines as a precaution against fires in Butte County immediately before the fire started, but instead canceled those plans. Butte County plans to pursue the full value of its claims whether in state court or in federal bankruptcy court.

The Camp Fire occurred within Butte County, and much of the devastation from the fire occurred in unincorporated areas of the County, causing losses to land, property, trees, infrastructure, public and natural resources, and other taxpayer resources.

“The filing of this lawsuit represents an important next step in helping the residents of Butte County recover and rebuild,” said Baron & Budd Shareholder, John Fiske. “Reestablishing County resources will be crucial to rebuilding this community after this historic blaze.”

ABOUT BARON & BUDD, P.C.

Baron & Budd, P.C. is among the largest and most accomplished plaintiffs’ law firms in the country. With more than 35 years of experience, Baron & Budd has the expertise and resources to handle complex litigation throughout the United States. As a law firm that takes pride in remaining at the forefront of litigation, Baron & Budd has spearheaded many significant cases for hundreds of entities and thousands of individuals. Since the firm was founded in 1977, Baron & Budd has achieved substantial national acclaim for its work on cutting-edge litigation, trying hundreds of cases to verdict and settling tens of thousands of cases in areas of litigation as diverse as dangerous pharmaceuticals and defective medical devices, asbestos and mesothelioma, environmental contamination, fraudulent banking practices, motor vehicles, employment, and other consumer fraud issues.