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Survivors Unite in a Legal Battle After Catastrophic Palisades Fire

On January 13, 2025, the law firms of Robertson & Associates, LLP and Foley Bezek Behle & Curtis, LLP took a significant step forward on behalf of the victims of the devastating Palisades Fire by filing a mass tort lawsuit against the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). This legal action comes on the heels of one of the most destructive wildfires in the history of Los Angeles, which began on January 7, 2025, and resulted in catastrophic damage to the Pacific Palisades area and surrounding communities.

The Scope of the Disaster

The Palisades Fire erupted southeast of Palisades Drive, quickly spreading and wreaking havoc across Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and Topanga Canyon. According to reports, the blaze has destroyed more than 5,300 homes and businesses, claimed at least eight lives, and resulted in numerous injuries to civilians and firefighters. It’s a tragedy that has marked its place in history as the worst natural disaster Los Angeles has ever faced.

Legal Grounds

In their filing, the plaintiffs allege that the LADWP's water supply system failed catastrophically at a critical moment, leaving both residents and emergency responders without adequate resources to combat the fast-moving fire. Roger Behle, one of the attorneys representing the survivors, expressed outrage over the inability to provide a basic necessity: water. He highlighted that the Santa Ynez Reservoir, which holds 117 million gallons of water, had been empty for nearly a year, despite being a critical part of the city's water supply system.

Behle stated, "LADWP made a conscious choice to delay repairs on the reservoir’s cover, opting instead for cost-saving measures that left Pacific Palisades vulnerable in its time of need." The implication here is grave—an affluent area heavily taxed for public services essentially found itself abandoned at a critical moment.

Government Response

In light of the mishandling of water resources during the disaster, California Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered an independent investigation into the actions—or lack thereof—of the LADWP. He characterized the loss of water pressure as