North Bay Wildfire Lawsuits
WILDFIRE LITIGATION ATTORNEYS SERVING NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
The North Bay wildfires, also called the Wine Country fires, destroyed thousands of homes and other structures, burned through more than 20 wineries and fields of crops, and claimed the lives of dozens of people who could not be evacuated in time. Frantz Law Group, APLC closely monitored and previously evaluated client cases involving the Wine Country wildfires, including the Tubbs Fire, Atlas Fire, Oakmont Fire, and many others.
At this time, claims related to the North Bay wildfires are past the applicable statute of limitations, and Frantz Law Group is no longer accepting new claims related to these fires. Statutes of limitation impose strict legal deadlines, and once those deadlines expire, new wildfire lawsuits generally cannot be pursued through the courts.
Evidence Points Towards PG&E Liability
Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) has already stated that it is not liable for the North Bay wildfires, and a company representative even said such notions were “speculative.” Regulators from the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) appeared to see the situation differently, as there was ample evidence indicating PG&E could have been found liable, at least partially, for the devastating inferno that consumed the region.
The PUC demanded that PG&E, as well as several telecommunication companies active in the Wine Country, preserve any and all electronic or physical evidence related to the blazes. PG&E was instructed not to change, alter, or tamper with equipment retrieved from affected areas, as well as internal communications discussing vegetation and tree control efforts.
Here are five facts that suggested PG&E may have been responsible for the North Bay wildfires:
- All of the blazes contributing to the North Bay wildfires were reported within a two-hour window between midnight and 2:00 a.m. on October 9, 2017.
- Approximately three hours earlier, Sonoma County emergency dispatches sent fire crews to at least 10 locations following reports of downed power lines, exploding transformers, and electrical grid failures.
- PG&E acknowledged that severe winds on October 8 disrupted power and may have damaged power lines.
- In spring 2017, the California Public Utilities Commission concluded PG&E’s negligent tree-trimming practices caused the 2015 Butte Fire and imposed multimillion-dollar penalties.
- In 1994, PG&E was found guilty of more than 700 counts of negligence related to a Nevada County wildfire caused by fallen trees contacting power lines.
Preliminary investigations indicated that PG&E power lines knocked down by windstorms and falling trees were a direct cause of multiple blazes. It also appeared PG&E may have failed to properly maintain power lines and surrounding vegetation in Sonoma, Santa Rosa, Napa Valley, and surrounding areas.
Damages That Were Cited in Wine Country Fire Claims
While many people affected by the North Bay fires had insurance coverage, numerous categories of losses were often not fully covered. Due to policy limits and the scale of destruction, many property owners were unable to recover the full amount needed to rebuild.
Winery owners, in particular, faced millions of dollars in damages due to destroyed facilities, crops, and the inability to produce or sell wine for extended periods.
Damages that were commonly cited in North Bay wildfire claims included:
- Burned landscapes, including farmland, crops, and vineyards
- Personal injuries requiring hospitalization
- Wrongful death of loved ones
- Lost wages and business profits
- Property and real estate destruction
- Emotional trauma
- Injured or killed livestock
- Vehicle destruction
- Insurance shortfalls due to policy limits
- Evacuation-related expenses such as hotel stays
Determining applicable damages required familiarity with complex disaster and liability laws. At the time, wildfire litigation allowed affected individuals and businesses to pursue recovery beyond insurance limitations.
Important Notice Regarding Legal Representation
Although Frantz Law Group has extensive experience handling large-scale wildfire litigation and successfully representing victims in other California wildfire cases, the legal window for filing new claims related to the North Bay wildfires has closed.
Frantz Law Group is no longer accepting new cases arising from the North Bay / Wine Country fires due to the expiration of the statute of limitations.
Our Ongoing Commitment to Wildfire Victims
With more than 120 years of combined legal experience, Frantz Law Group remains committed to helping Californians affected by current and future wildfire events pursue accountability when legally permitted.
If you believe you were harmed by a more recent wildfire or have questions about eligibility for other wildfire litigation, we encourage you to contact our firm for a free case evaluation.
Additional Resources
For historical information about the Wine Country wildfires, visit:
