which attorney to hire for camp fire

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Who are the lawyers for the 2018 Camp Fire victims?

CHICO, CA – Danko Meredith, Gibbs Law Group, and Corey, Luzaich, de Ghetaldi & Riddle, a coalition of law firms known as Northern California Fire Lawyers, want to alert those affected by the 2018 Camp Fire that the Court set an important deadline today for the filing of potential legal claims against PG&E: all victims and survivors of PG&E-cause...

What is the Butte Camp Fire lawsuit?

The first-filed Butte Camp Fire Lawsuit is on behalf of victims of the Camp Fire who were injured and lost homes or businesses due to the fire. Our wildfire lawyers filed another lawsuit, the Butte Camp Fire Wrongful Death Lawsuit, on behalf of family members who lost loved ones in the 2018 Butte fire.

Why is PG&E being sued for the camp fire?

The lawsuits allege, among other things, that PG&E was negligent in failing to maintain its infrastructure and properly inspect and manage its power transmission lines, the failure of which ultimately caused the Camp Fire to ignite on Pulga Road near Paradise, California.

Are you eligible to file a claim for a house fire?

You may be eligible to file regardless of if you have relevant documentation. In fact, the simple act of having to flee the fire may enable your claim.

Can I still sue PG&E for campfire?

This is a court claim against PG&E, and is not dependent on your insurance policy. You can file a claim even if your insurance has already covered some of your losses.

How much will camp fire victims get from PG&E?

PG&E's $13.5 billion promise to wildfire victims Victims were told by PG&E the total payout would hit $13.5 billion. The victims won't actually receive stock; instead, Trotter will sell shares over time to raise the cash he needs to make the total add up to $13.5 billion.

How can I help California fires?

8 Ways to Help People Affected by the California WildfiresRaise Funds for Hydration Backpacks. ... Donate Items for Babies. ... Help the Humane Society Save Animals. ... Volunteer. ... Open Your Home to Evacuees and Firefighters. ... Bring Food to Pantries. ... Support the Wildfire Relief Fund.More items...

Is a fire victim trust payment a taxable payment?

Apparently, the Fire Victim Trust (FVT), which is responsible for disbursing settlements from the PG& E fund, provides 1099 tax forms to payees, but law firms making payments to clients do not, leaving recipients confused when it came time to file taxes.

What percentage of victims of the PG&E Camp Fire received the approved amount from the victim trust fund?

Close to 50,000 people are still waiting for a partial percentage payment of their total claim. Less than half of the nearly 70,000 claimants have received a preliminary payment from the Trust up to $25,000.

Can I volunteer to help fight fires in California?

VIPs are trained to assist CAL FIRE's efforts during wildland fires, earthquakes, floods and other emergencies by providing information to the media and public. To find out more about becoming a VIP, contact your nearest CAL FIRE unit.

What do fire victims need most?

Basic Necessities The family's basic needs include adequate clothing, such as school clothing for children and work clothes for adults. Other items a displaced family must replace are medicines and physical aids like glasses.

What can people do to help wildfires?

Forest Fire Prevention TipsObey local laws regarding open fires, including campfires.Keep all flammable objects away from fire. ... Have firefighting tools nearby and handy.Never leave a fire unattended.Carefully dispose of hot charcoal.Drown all fires.Carefully extinguish smoking materials.

What to Do After the Camp Fire

Now that the Paradise Camp Fire is out, many residents are at a loss and don’t know where to turn for help. It’s important to understand how your actions can affect the processing of your claim. The lawyers at Bentley & More LLP recommend taking the following actions to protect your claims and facilitate the process:

Dealing With Insurance Companies After a Wildfire

Large-scale events like the Paradise Camp Fire can lead to a number of issues, especially with insurance companies. As a policyholder, you essentially pay for a promise each month.

What Is Insurance Bad Faith?

Insurance laws in the state of California require that all insurers exercise good faith and fair dealing when investigating and paying out claims. In other words, they must use fairness and honesty when evaluating the veracity of a claim and what it’s truly worth.

What was the Trauner Fire?

1994 – Trauner Fire: PG&E was convicted of 739 criminal negligence charges for failing to trim trees near its power lines. The untrimmed trees have been said to be the main reason for the Trauner Fire. This resulted in fines of $2 million. The fire began in August 1994, burning a dozen homes, and a school in a small town in Nevada County.

What is the number to call for wildfire insurance?

Call us at 866-201-5594

What are the types of property damage?

While each case is different, common damage categories include: 1 Business losses 2 Damage to trees, timber, or underwood 3 Depreciation in the value of your land 4 Emotional distress 5 Harm to pets or livestock 6 Loss of crops 7 Lost wages 8 Personal injury 9 The cost to repair or replace your home and personal property 10 The loss of use and enjoyment of your property 11 Wrongful death

When did the Camp Fire start?

The Camp Fire was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history to date. The fire started on Nov. 8, 2018 , in Butte County, California. Utility companies such as PG&E are held to the highest standard when it comes to damages on life and property. The fire caused at least 85 civilian fatalities and destroyed 18,804 structures.

What happened to the PG&E camp fire?

The Walkup Melodia team of fire lawyers is presently involved in the investigation of wrongful death cases against PG&E for the tragic loss of life that occurred in the November 2018 “Camp Fire” that occurred as a result of a PG&E transmission line malfunction, causing widespread devastation throughout Butte County, and devastating city of Paradise together with more than 100,000 surrounding acres. The intense heat of the flames has made it extremely difficult to identify all of those who lost their lives. Many families remain traumatized by the anxiety of not knowing if their loved ones are alive or dead. Sheriff’s deputies and officials from the coroner’s office have been searching charred homes and vehicles that have been too hot for body-sniffing dogs.

When did the Tubbs fire start?

On August 14, 2019, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Dennis Montali heard arguments regarding the Tubbs fire, started on October 8, 2017, that devastated homes, towns and took nearly two dozen lives. PG&E, the utility company responsible for causing the fires, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January 2019, as the estimate from the wildfire damages neared $30 billion dollars. PG&E argued that all lawsuits against the company by wildfire victims should cease, and any claims should be consolidated as part of that bankruptcy.

Why do wildfire victims have to go to jury trial?

Although Cal Fire determined that it was private property owners’ equipment that started the wildfire, lawyers for the wildfire victims insist that there should be a jury trial instead, in order to prove that the investor-owned utility is responsible for the wildfire.

How are wildfires different from property damage?

Wrongful death and personal injury claims arising out of utility-caused wildfires are different from property damage claims. Where only property damages are claimed, the injured party can rely upon inverse condemnation and nuisance, two paths to recovery that don’t require the actual proof of a failure to act with reasonable care. However, wildfire-caused wrongful death claims involve different law: clients who have lost a loved one need lawyers who know how to prove the loss of care, comfort, society, financial support and companionship. The law that governs wrongful death cases is different than the law that applies in property loss cases. The items of recoverable damage are different and the proof of losses are different.

How much money is paid to victims of wildfires?

The plan specifically caps wildfire victims claims at $8.4 billion and caps reimbursing insurers that paid victims’ claims at $8.5 billion. Additionally, only $1 billion is offered for reimbursement to local governments.

How many people died in the Paradise fire?

The number of dead has reached at least 42. As of November 12, there were still 200 people unaccounted for.

What is United Policy Holders?

United Policy Holders – Camp Fire Insurance Claim Help#N#A California-based non-profit organization, United Policy Holders responds in times of crisis and major disasters. They have developed a comprehensive Roadmap to Recovery to assist fire victims with first steps and long term guidance through the process of navigating the insurance process.

CampFire Victims Have Important Legal Rights

Affected Paradise fire victims and Butte County fire victims have important legal rights during the lawsuit investigation. The steps and actions Camp Fire victims take in the immediate aftermath of the fire can affect their rights and ability to file claims going forward.

Downed Power Lines Are the Leading Cause of Northern California Wildfires

While wildfires are often thought of as natural disasters, it is actually most commonly a person or business that is responsible for starting the blaze. In Northern California, downed power lines are the leading cause of wildfires, and poor maintenance of electrical equipment is a common problem among PG&E and other California power utilities.

Chico Enterprise-Record: PG&E May Have Sparked the Camp Fire

According to an article by the Chico Enterprise-Record, downed PG&E power lines may have sparked the Camp Fire per firefighter radio transmissions reviewed by Bay Area News Group. The article reports that at about 6:33 a.m.

PG&E Fires Claims Deadline

The bankruptcy judge in charge of the Camp Fire lawsuits against PG&E set a December 31, 2019 deadline to file papers in bankruptcy court. Those who did not file by the deadline may not be eligible for recovery. Contact the Northern California Fire Lawyers today to learn more.

Other PG&E Wildfire Lawsuits: '17 Wildfires & '19 Kincade Fire

In addition to the Camp Fire, our team is also helping victims of the 2017 wildfires, as well as the 2019 Kincade fire. Some of the 2017 wildfires include:

Northern California Fire Lawyers in the News

Our team of Butte Camp Fire Attorneys have been featured and our lawsuit against PG&E has been chronicled in major national and California news publications:

About the CampFire Lawyers of NorCal Fire Lawyers

We are an experienced legal team that represents homeowners, renters and businesses affected by fires throughout California. Our attorneys have been appointed by California judges to serve in leadership roles in several large, coordinated fire and disaster cases, including in the 2017 PG&E Fire Cases, San Bruno Explosion and Butte Fire cases.

What is the Butte County Grand Jury's report?

The report examines the "lessons learned" from the 2018 Camp Fire, and provides a list of recommendations to improve evacuation plans and emergency communication systems in the County.

Who is the attorney for the Tubbs fire?

In his "California Personal Injury Law" article, Camp Fire Attorney Mike Danko explains why PG&E's refusal to pay for the Tubbs fires may hold up wildfire claims. But he also points to a solution.

When will PG&E transmissions be repaired?

Worse, many of these repairs are still needed today. July 11, 2019.

Can you file a claim if you own a home that was destroyed by a fire?

It is NOT true that you can only file a claim if you owned a home that was destroyed by the fire. You can file a claim for a number of different reasons, including loss of a rental home, loss of personal property, and adverse health effects caused by the fire.

Do you have to have documents to prove a fire?

It is NOT true that you must have documents to prove every item you lost in the fire. You may be eligible to file regardless of if you have relevant documentation. In fact, the simple act of having to flee the fire may enable your claim.

History of PG&E Incidents and Settlements

Camp Fire Lawsuit – Compensation You Can Seek

When Is The Deadline For Filing A Camp Fire Claim?

Affected by The Camp Fire? Review Your Claim with A Camp Fire Lawyer

• If you or a loved one has been a victim of a utility-company-related wildfire, we will seek damages on your behalf for the losses you have incurred with absolutely no out-of-pocket expenses from you.Call us at 866-201-5594

See more on wildfirelegalcenter.com