More than 350 participants logged onto the California and Hawaii State NAACP Conference-hosted town hall Zoom meeting on January 14 to hear a presentation from a San Diego-based law firm discuss their intention to sue Southern California Edison for the damages in the Eaton and Hurst Fires.
The town hall was organized at the invitation of Rick Callender, President of the California and Hawaii NAACP Conference. National NAACP President Derek Johnson and NAACP National Chair Leon Russell were also in attendance.
Gerald Singleton, Managing Partner of Singleton Schreiber LLP, described their practice as “the largest wildfire litigation firm in the nation.” He said the firm is investigating the Eaton and Hurst fires and believes Southern California Edison is responsible for the Eaton fire, citing video evidence of an electrical arcing event that has been widely circulated in the media.
The firm has already filed initial lawsuits against SCE and aims to consolidate cases for efficient litigation. Damages (contingent upon proximity to the fire and personal circumstances) can include property loss, emotional distress, rebuilding costs, attorney fees and litigation costs, with insurance payouts affecting settlements. Singleton emphasized that the firm’s strategy would be to prioritize mass settlements and ensure fair compensation rather than a class action strategy.
Southern California Edison has been extensively quoted in the media, saying that it has not had a chance to review the lawsuits filed and has not admitted any wrongdoing.
