On December 5, 2018 a class action lawsuit was filed against Pacific Gas & Electric – Burnett v. PG&E Corporation, https://www.classaction.org/media/burnett-et-al-v-pg-and-e-corporation-et-al.pdf. Paragraphs 4 and 5 of the complaint summarize the plaintiffs’ allegations as follows:
The Camp Fire was caused by unsafe electrical infrastructure owned, operated, and (improperly) maintained by PG&E Corporation and Pacific Gas & Electric Company (collectively referred to as “PG&E”). PG&E had a duty to properly maintain its electrical infrastructure to ensure its safe operation, including by adequately designing, constructing, monitoring, maintaining, operating, repairing, replacing, and/or improving its power lines, poles, transformers, conductors, insulators, reclosers, and/or other electrical equipment. This duty included inspecting and managing vegetation around its power lines and/or other electrical equipment, given the foreseeable risk of such vegetation coming into contact with this equipment and starting fires. Even though PG&E knew that its infrastructure was aging, unsafe, and vulnerable to weather and environmental conditions, it failed to fulfill these duties and failed to take preventative measures in the face of known high-risk weather conditions, such as de-energizing its electrical equipment. PG&E’s failures ultimately resulted in the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history.
Complex, high-stakes litigation like this (the estimated property damage from the Camp Fire is $16.5 billion) requires extreme care in selecting highly qualified experts with extensive testifying experience. The parties will need top experts in several fields, including forensic economics, electrical engineering, utility management, bankruptcy, and public utility regulatory policy. At Vident Partners, we not only have access to experts in these fields and many others – essentially any kind of expert needed for any type of litigation – but also have a broad and deep understanding of the litigation process, which means that we understand exactly what an attorney needs for any given case. So when you have the opportunity to take on a case that is both complex and has the potential for a large award, come to us first. Our 15 years of experience in providing outstanding experts to both plaintiff and defense attorneys is your assurance that we will provide the right experts for your case.
