Judge Orders Southern California Edison to Trial Over Eaton Fire

Superior Court Judge Laura Seigle ruled that Southern California Edison must face a trial to determine its liability for the 2025 Eaton Fire. The ruling rejects the utility's attempt to avoid trial via the inverse condemnation doctrine, which holds utilities liable for property damages caused by their equipment regardless of negligence.

The Eaton Fire began in January 2025 near Pasadena, killing 19 people and damaging or destroying over 9,000 structures across 14,000 acres. A Los Angeles County Fire Department report attributed the blaze to electrical arcing on an out-of-service tower. Southern California Edison argued the tower had been idle since 1971 and should not trigger strict liability.

Judge Seigle found no legal authority to support the claim that an idle public improvement is exempt from liability. The utility has encouraged those impacted to file claims through the Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program instead of pursuing litigation. An initial trial is scheduled for late January.