Utility Company Sued for Allegedly Causing Death of California Homeowner in a Wildfire
Dec 9, 2015
Southfield, MI (Law Firm Newswire) December 9, 2015 – Owen Goldsmith died in his home on Sept. 9, 2015, in the Butte Fire in California. He was 82-years old. His surviving family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against PG&E and two tree cutting services, vegetation management company ACRT Trees and Trees Inc.
Goldsmith’s two daughters, Karen Goldsmith and Stephanie Mathes, allege that PG&E put the retired Air Force staff sergeant in a situation where he felt he had no escape. The wildfire that took Goldsmith’s life burned more than 800 homes and building to the ground and consumed over 70,000 acres of land. It was a horrific disaster.
PG&E suggested Owen Goldsmith did not pay attention to evacuation orders. He died in his home, a place his daughters called his refuge. However, the plaintiff’s attorney states that whether he heeded the evacuation order or not is irrelevant, and that the power company put him in a situation where he felt there was no escape.
The statement of claim alleges PG&E did not properly inspect their electrical lines and keep on top of the adjacent vegetation that was often seen encroaching on the lines. In this case, the attorneys cite a drooping tree that fell on a 12,000-volt power line causing a shower of sparks and resulting in the Butte fire.
PG&E has a statutory obligation to protect its power lines by maintaining the nearby vegetation, including trees. This is not the first fire that PG&E has been held responsible for over the last several years.
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