Twenty-five victims of the recent Palisades Fire have taken legal action against the City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). They filed an inverse condemnation lawsuit in the Los Angeles Superior Court, claiming that both entities did not provide a sufficient water supply and fire hydrant system during the disaster.
Peter McNulty, the attorney representing the fire victims, emphasized that the city and LADWP had a responsibility to ensure their water supply system was properly built, inspected, and maintained. He stated that the failure of this system significantly contributed to the losses suffered by his clients.
The lawsuit asserts that the design and construction of the city’s water facilities, reservoirs, and hydrants posed a serious risk of fire to private properties. This legal action follows the Palisades Fire, which occurred alongside other major fires, including the Eaton Fire, in January.
The Palisades Fire has been described as one of the most destructive in California’s history. In a related move, Los Angeles County has also sued Edison International to recover losses linked to the fire.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the victims hope to hold the city and LADWP accountable for what they see as negligence that led to significant devastation in their community.