Keller Rohrback L.L.P. Announces Filing of New Lawsuit Against SoCal Edison on Behalf of Victims of the January 2025 Eaton Wildfire

Keller Rohrback L.L.P. announces that it has filed a lawsuit against electric utility company, Southern California Edison (SCE), in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles on behalf of survivors of the January 2025 Eaton Wildfire in Los Angeles.

The suit alleges that the utility’s reckless failure to properly maintain and de-energize its powerlines during extreme weather conditions led to the devastating Eaton Canyon Wildfire. The complaint asserts that despite clear warnings of unprecedented wind speeds and record-dry conditions, SCE failed to take necessary precautions—such as shutting off power to high-risk transmission lines—resulting in a catastrophic fire that destroyed homes, displaced families, and caused immense harm. The lawsuits seek to hold SCE accountable for its negligence and to ensure the utility prioritizes public safety over profit.

“SCE knew the extreme fire danger its powerlines posed yet failed to take basic precautions. Utilities regularly shut off power in high-risk conditions, but they chose not to—gambling with lives, homes, and communities,” said Matthew Preusch, Keller Rohrback partner and attorney for the plaintiffs.

The plaintiffs in this lawsuit include the Cheung family, longtime Altadena residents whose home and cherished belongings were completely destroyed in the Eaton Fire. Frank and Roxanne Cheung, along with their teenage daughter and son, lost everything, including irreplaceable family heirlooms and childhood keepsakes, leaving the entire family grappling with the devastating loss of their sense of security.

Also among the plaintiffs are Josh and Gayle Moreau, who narrowly escaped the fire after seeing it racing down the mountainside with no prior evacuation warning. Though their home fortunately remained standing, it suffered extensive smoke and ash damage, forcing them into weeks of displacement and costly remediation efforts.

Will Dreher, another Keller Rohrback partner representing the plaintiffs, stated, “This lawsuit is about justice—ensuring that SoCal Edison take responsibility for the devastation it caused to victims like Frank and Roxanne’s family and Josh and Gayle.”

About Keller Rohrback L.L.P.

Keller Rohrback is experienced at holding energy companies accountable in wildfire litigation. Recently, Keller Rohrback was appointed as Co-Lead Counsel to represent survivors of a series of fires caused by the utility PacifiCorp over the Labor Day 2020 weekend in Oregon. Keller Rohrback’s and their co-counsel’s work ultimately resulted in a jury verdict finding PacifiCorp liable to the class of survivors of four fires and awarding more than $250 million in damages to fire victims to date, with more damages trials still yet to be litigated. When factoring in the damages available to the class, it would be the largest civil jury verdict in Oregon history. Keller Rohrback has also represented hundreds of survivors of other fires stretching from Colorado to Maui, Hawaii. For its work in these and other cases, the firm was recognized as one of Law360’s Environmental Groups of the Year in both 2023 and 2024.

Keller Rohrback’s environmental lawyers have a long history of helping to protect people and the environment across the country, whether that means fighting for victims of preventable wildfires or oil spills, for communities exposed to toxic materials, or for people who purchased contaminated or defective products.

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