Doyle APC and the Consumer Law Group of Calfironia have filed a class action lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of victims of the January 2025 Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive urban wildfires in Los Angeles history.
The lawsuit targets the City of Los Angeles and its department, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), for alleged failures that caused and exacerbated the wildfire. These include energized downed power lines and critically low water reserves that left firefighters unable to contain the fire’s spread.
What the Lawsuit Alleges
- LADWP’s overhead power lines broke during a high-wind event and ignited the fire.
- LADWP failed to de-energize these lines despite multiple red flag warnings.
- Fire hydrants ran dry due to an empty LADWP reservoir and depleted water tanks.
- Thousands of residents were forced to flee, many losing everything.
This fire was not an act of nature—it was the foreseeable result of LADWP’s failure to manage its infrastructure in a fire-prone zone,” said William Doyle of Doyle APC. “We’re taking this action now to protect the rights of victims and ensure their voices are heard.”
Why File the Lawsuit Now?
Under California’s Government Claims Act, people must file a written claim with a public entity before they can sue for money damages. This claim must typically be filed within six months of when the incident occurred, unless certain exceptions apply.
For Palisades Fire victims, this deadline could be as early as July 7, 2025. Many victims haven’t filed their claims yet, are still working with insurance adjusters, or may not even be aware of this requirement and deadline.
This lawsuit seeks declaratory and injunctive relief to:
- Ask the court to declare that the filing and pendency of this class action and/or presentment of a written claim to Defendants on behalf of all such persons satisfies the written claims requirement on behalf of the proposed Class and constitutes substantial compliance with the procedural requirements of the Government Claims Act for those affected.
- Preventing those claims from being barred under the Government Claims Act.
The residents of Malibu and the Palisades deserve justice, not legal obstacles,” said attorney Chris Cantrell
How to Get Involved
If you or a family member lost a home, business, personal belongings, or suffered damage in the January 2025 Palisades Fire and you have not filed a claim with the City of Los Angeles, you may be eligible to participate in this lawsuit.
View / Download the Complaint (PDF) Contact Our Legal TeamMedia Contacts
Alan M. Mansfield
Lead media contact and spokesperson
Consumer Law Group of California
(619) 308-5034
alan@clgca.com
William J. Doyle and Chris W. Cantrell of Doyle APC are also available for comment.
bill@doyleapc.com
chris@doyleapc.com
Frequently Asked Questions – Palisades Fire Class Action
Who is this lawsuit against?
The City of Los Angeles and its department, LADWP, for negligence related to power line maintenance and water supply failures.
Who is included in the class action?
Anyone who lived in or owned property in the affected fire zones of the Palisades Fire and has not already filed a claim or lawsuit against LADWP or the City of Los Angeles.
Why is this case important right now?
Before suing a government entity for money damages, people must first file a written claim within six months of the incident—unless certain exceptions apply. Since the Palisades Fire started in early January 2025, victims may need to submit their formal claims to the government by July 7, 2025.
This lawsuit presently asks the court to extend or deem that deadline satisfied for all fire victims in the class.
What does the lawsuit seek?
Right now, only declaratory and injunctive relief. We plan to amend the case to add monetary damages after the formal government claims process has been concluded.
Do I need to pay anything to join?
No. The case is being handled on a contingency basis and you pay nothing unless we recover compensation.
Will this affect my insurance claim?
No. This lawsuit is separate and may cover losses that insurance did not.
How do I get involved?
Contact our team by filling out the form below. Our team will review your case and follow up if you may qualify to participate.
Join the Palisades Fire Lawsuit
If you or your family suffered property loss or damage during the January 2025 Palisades Fire and have not yet filed a legal claim, you may be eligible to participate in this class action lawsuit.
Please complete the form below to request a free case review. Submissions are confidential and involve no cost or obligation.
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