WASHINGTON—The Department of Justice announced on Sept. 4 that it has sued a California utility company for nearly $80 million, alleging that it contributed to two forest fires in the state.
The department filed two lawsuits, one for each fire, alleging that Southern California Edison’s negligence led to the Fairview Fire in 2022 and the Eaton Fire this past January.
“The lawsuits filed today allege a troubling pattern of negligence resulting in death, destruction, and tens of millions of federal taxpayer dollars spent to clean up one utility company’s mistakes,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli in a statement.
“We hope that today’s filings are the first step in causing the beginnings of a culture change at Southern California Edison, one that will make it a responsible, conscientious company that helps— not harms—our community,” he continued. “Hard-working Californians should not pick up the tab for Edison’s negligence.”…