Wildfire hardening efforts, or property upgrades that help mitigate fire damage and reduce the risk of combustion, can reduce insurance premiums in California. State law requires property insurance providers to offer discounts to homeowners who make certain fire safety improvements. However, price reductions will only apply to the part of the premium assigned to wildfire…
The fire that tore through Altadena in January 2025 became the fifth deadliest and second most destructive wildfire in California’s recorded history. Known as the Eaton Fire, it destroyed more than 9,000 structures, particularly affecting the Altadena community in the San Gabriel Valley. If you suffered property damage or lost your home in the Altadena…
A Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee (PSC) is a group of lawyers that is assigned to manage a complex lawsuit, such as wildfire mass tort litigation. It is a group council that is appointed to represent the interests of the plaintiffs (those who suffered harm) involved in the case. The PSC’s purpose is to help plaintiffs manage…
Under California law, when a utility company is responsible for causing a wildfire, it is required to pay compensation to make up for fire damage even if the company was not negligent. If the required damages are too great for a utility service to pay, it can result in a bankruptcy filing that potentially alters…
Founding Partner Richard Bridgford was selected for inclusion on The Best Lawyers in America’s 2027 list in the Commercial Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation categories for his work with plaintiffs. This marks Richard’s fifth year in a row being recognized by Best Lawyers. For more than three decades, Best Lawyers has been considered the most
A wildfire has the potential to cause an immense amount of physical, emotional and financial damage to those impacted. Recovering from a wildfire can be made easier by financial compensation granted to the victim to rebuild. In California, this compensation can come from both FEMA aid and a wildfire lawsuit; the choice is not either/or.What…