NFL hall-of-famer Eric Dickerson is among 150 people who filed a lawsuit Thursday worth hundreds of millions of dollars against an electricity company for allegedly starting the devastating Woolsey Fire in California.
Other notable victims of the November blaze seeking restitution from utility firm Southern California Edison (SCE) include celebrity photographer Kevin Foley and three-time Oscar-winning sound engineer Chris Jenkins.
The plaintiffs' losses, which they say SCE should pay for, include a couple's mansion with a $8 million collection of 71 rare automobiles and motorcycles, an artist's $1 million collection of paintings, a 6,000 ft home with a photography studio that was meant to be rented to Lady Gaga for the whole of December, and Motley Crue member Nikki Sixx's former mansion with a 50-60 tree orchard and two aviaries.
The suit, if successful, is likely to take a big chunk out of SCE's $1 billion fire insurance policy.
More than 100 people have filed a lawsuit against Southern California Edison (SCE) for allegedly starting the Woolsey Fire in California. Among those suing are Gary and Diane Cerveny, who lost their entire collection of 71 rare cars and motorbikes appraised at $8 million. Pictured: Firefighters trying to save a vintage car at the Cervenys' home
Other notable victims of the November blaze seeking restitution is celebrity photographer Kevin Foley, whose 6,000ft home with 28-acres in Agoura Hills next to his studio, where Lady Gaga was set to shoot for the whole of December burned down (pictured)
NFL hall-of-famer Eric Dickerson has also joined the suit and says his home (pictured) was damaged with 'smoke and soot' and he and his family 'suffered severe emotional distress' when they were evacuated
Notable victims of the November blaze seeking restitution from utility firm Southern California Edison (SCE) include Eric Dickerson (left) and three-time Oscar-winning sound engineer Chris Jenkins (right)
On November 8, strong winds combined with drought to make the perfect conditions for the Woolsey Fire which destroyed more than 1,600 properties and swept through almost 100,000 acres of Ventura County and Los Angeles County.
The inferno was sparked, the lawsuit claims, by power lines clashing together in the high winds on the site of the Santa Susana Field Lab near Simi Valley, sending sparks flying into the dry vegetation below.
Lawyers for the fire victims say the fire began 'directly beneath SCE's 16kV transmission power lines' on the site, and they claim that SCE 'failed to take adequate precautions to prevent its equipment from sparking the Woolsey Fire.'
Former NFL star Eric Dickerson, 58 - who played for the LA Rams among other teams and rushed for over 13,000 yards in a stunning 11 season career - says his home was damaged with 'smoke and soot' and he and his family 'suffered severe emotional distress' when they were evacuated.
Celebrity photographer Kevin Foley owned a 6,000ft home with 28-acres in Agoura Hills next to his studio, where Lady Gaga was set to shoot for the whole of December.
Foley evacuated his family and returned to fight off the blaze using a fire hose, but it burned down his entire property.
Foley's neighbor, Chris Jenkins, a sound engineer who won three Oscars for his work on Mad Max: Fury Road, The Last of the Mohicans and Out of Africa, had been doing post production for the 2019 movie Shaft from his home studio, but lost his work in the fire along with his property.
Celebrity photographer Kevin Foley's (left) photography studio that was meant to be rented to Lady Gaga for the whole of December burned down
Foley evacuated his family and returned to fight off the blaze using a fire hose, but it burned down his entire property (pictured)
The court papers say Foley and his neighbor Chris Jenkins 'spent three days fighting the fires at their homes and watched structures on his property burn and his neighbors' homes burn
Alex Robertson, the attorney heading the class action, wrote in the court documents that SCE is to blame for the fire for 'failing to maintain its overhead electrical facilities in a safe manner'. Pictured: Foley's burnt out studio
Jenkins has also engineered the sound for Stephen King horror movie It, Justice League, Man of Steel, Watchmen, 300 and many other blockbusters.
The court papers say Foley and Jenkins 'spent three days fighting the fires at their homes and watched structures on his property burn and his neighbors' homes burn.'
'The Woolsey Fire damaged the Plaintiffs' main home with smoke and soot, and destroyed the Plaintiffs' three barns, riding arenas, round pen, landscaping, roads and infrastructure on the Plaintiffs' 10 acre property, including bridges, well, pump house, power poles, telecommunications equipment and Christopher Jenkins' recording studio, and all of its contents including works in progress for major motion picture projects,' the suit said.
Gary and Diane Cerveny of Mullholland Highway in Malibu owned a collection of 71 rare cars and motorbikes appraised at $8 million, as well as a 5,000 square foot home, 2,500 square foot shop, 1,700 square foot guest house and 10,500 square foot garage, all lost to the Woolsey fire according to the documents.
'One of the automobiles destroyed in the fire was a one-of-a-kind Concours-winning Norman Timbs Special,' the suit said.
Alex Robertson, the attorney heading the class action, wrote in the court documents that SCE is to blame for the fire for 'failing to maintain its overhead electrical facilities in a safe manner', 'failing to perform vegetation management in accordance with applicable regulations' and 'failing to shut down the Big Rock 16kV circuit to prevent a catastrophic wildfire during the Red Flag weather conditions that preceded the Woolsey Fire.'
In the papers, filed in Los Angeles Thursday, Robertson wrote that SCE is required by law to make sure its power lines and utility poles can withstand winds of up to 92mph, and should trim back trees and vegetation within 10 feet of their equipment.
The Cervenys' collection of 71 rare cars and motorbikes appraised at $8 million, as well as a 5,000 square foot home, 2,500 square foot shop, 1,700 square foot guest house and 10,500 square foot garage, all lost to the Woolsey fire according to the documents. Pictured: The Cervenys lost their Studebaker Kart Hauler (pictured) in the blaze
'One of the automobiles destroyed in the fire was a one-of-a-kind Concours-winning Norman Timbs Special,' (pictured) the suit said of the Cerveny's car collection
The suit is the latest in a slew of legal action against utility companies for their alleged role in devastating wildfires across California. Pictured: Burning houses in Malibu in the Woolsey Fire
Robertson, a fire litigation expert, himself had to evacuate from his Westlake Village office during the Woolsey fire.
He told DailyMail.com: 'This repeating pattern of utility companies burning down our communities in California due to their faulty overhead electrical equipment must stop. These fires are happening more frequently and with increasing destruction and loss of life.
'State investigators found that Edison caused the 2007 Malibu Canyon Fire. Edison recently admitted their equipment sparked at least one of the origins of the Thomas Fire. Now with the Woolsey Fire, Edison says their power lines up at Rocketdyne may have come into contact with a wire supporting a pole.
'This is not okay. Edison and it's shareholders should be held solely responsible for this unspeakable tragedy and not be allowed to pass the costs to the ratepayers.'
The suit is the latest in a slew of legal action against utility companies for their alleged role in devastating wildfires across California.
Utility firm Pacific Gas and Electric Co is being taken to court by victims of Camp Fire in Northern California, the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in the state's recorded history.
In a statement on their website, SCE said: 'Safety is the company's top priority and a core value for SCE. Our employees work vigilantly year-round to strengthen the electric system and protect the public and our employees against a variety of natural and man-made threats.
'SCE believes the state can do more, including enacting fire-smart building codes, particularly in high fire risk areas, and ensuring the proper allocation of legal responsibility — including SCE's where appropriate — for the often-tragic consequences of wildfires.'
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2018/12/14/california-residents-are-filing-suit-against-electricity-company-for-starting-woolsey-fire/
Main photo article NFL hall-of-famer Eric Dickerson is among 150 people who filed a lawsuit Thursday worth hundreds of millions of dollars against an electricity company for allegedly starting the devastating Woolsey Fire in California.
Other notable victims of the November blaze seeking restitution from utility...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2018/12/14/14/7382150-6492063-More_than_100_people_have_filed_a_lawsuit_against_Southern_Calif-a-20_1544796920821.jpg
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