The Eaton Fire in the Los Angeles area has led to numerous lawsuits against Southern California Edison (SCE), with the latest being a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Evelyn Cathirell.
Cathirell’s daughter, Evelyn “Petey” McClendon, sadly lost her life in the fire that destroyed their home. This lawsuit is among the first death-related cases brought against the utility company, which is accused of negligence in maintaining its equipment, potentially sparking the devastating blaze.
The Eaton Fire that ravaged the Los Angeles area last week has resulted in over two dozen fatalities and the destruction of approximately 40,000 acres. The fire, encouraged by strong Santa Ana winds, spread rapidly, causing widespread devastation in the second-largest U.S. metro area.
While official investigators have yet to determine the exact cause of the Eaton Fire near Pasadena, Southern California Edison (SCE) is facing a growing number of lawsuits. These lawsuits claim that the utility’s equipment may have ignited the initial flames. Among the plaintiffs is Altadena resident Evelyn Cathirell, who has filed a wrongful death lawsuit after the remains of her daughter, Evelyn “Petey” McClendon, were discovered in their destroyed home.
“Petey’s final hours were filled with chaos and panic,” the lawsuit states, describing the distressing conditions as embers blew freely in the wind, spot fires erupted in all directions, and the relentless wind continued to fan the flames.
Cathirell’s lawsuit is part of a wave of legal actions taken against SCE by residents and business owners who have lost property in the fire. Late Thursday night, attorneys for another fire victim, Evangeline Iglesias, filed an emergency request for SCE to preserve additional electrical equipment for examination in ongoing investigations. Iglesias, whose home in Altadena was totally wrecked by the fire, is also among those seeking accountability from the utility company.
A spokesperson for SCE remarked that the company is focusing on restoring power to affected areas and is aware of the lawsuits related to the Eaton Fire. SCE, a subsidiary of Edison International, has previously indicated that it preserved some power equipment for fire investigations.
The law firm representing Iglesias, Edelson PC, argued in court filings that SCE’s plan to remove physical power infrastructure in the burn area was unreasonable, given the utility’s unique knowledge of the fire’s origin and spread. The firm contends that SCE should be required to preserve all relevant evidence to ensure a thorough investigation.
As multiple investigations into the causes of the Eaton and Palisades fires continue, the legal battles against Southern California Edison are likely to intensify. The outcome of these cases could have significant implications for utility companies and their responsibilities in preventing such disasters.
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