California’s Department of Insurance is holding workshops and one-on-one meetings for Camp Fire survivors this month. The workshops are scheduled for 10-11 AM on February 23 at Chico State University’s Laxson Auditorium. Anyone interested in scheduling a one-on-one appointment with the Department of Insurance should call 1-800-927-4357.
More information is available here.
Judge Dennis Montali, who is overseeing PG&E’s bankruptcy case, has held several hearings, which our lawyers have attended and participated in. Judge Montali approved a number of interim motions allowing PG&E to continue its operations.
As you may have heard, PG&E is now refusing to pay twenty-two victims of the 2015 Butte Fire in Calaveras County, with whom it had already agreed to settlements. At the same time, PG&E asked Judge Montali to approve the payment of $130 million in employee bonuses. Our attorneys objected to such payments being made before PG&E compensates the 2015 Butte Fire victims it already agreed to pay.
PG&E claims that establishing a trust fund will help compensate victims of the Camp Fire. Our attorneys are skeptical, noting that PG&E still owes money from previous fire settlements and that their plan does not indicate how the money will be dispersed.
“They really quick[ly] hurried up and gave a raise to one of [their] senior vice president[s] of $75,000 because how can you possibly get along with a mere $500,000 a year,” wildfire victims’ attorney Mike Danko told Dan Noyes. “So that’s the first thing that they did in anticipation of bankruptcy. It just isn’t right.”
Camp Fire attorney Mike Danko continues to advocate for PG&E to consider victim settlements a priority over handing out executive bonuses.
Camp Fire attorneys Amanda Riddle & Dario De Ghetaldi advocate for PG&E to prioritize compensation of the many ’17 and ’18 California wildfire victims. In the KTVU news feature Amanda says, “And so what we did today, is we asked the court to prioritize the needs of those wildfire victims, especially those ones who need immediate assistance because they have no insurance and no homes”. She further states, “They’ve got about $20 billion more in assets than liabilities and so what we’re looking for is a stream lined process for the most impacted victims”. One of the issues currently facing the courts is who should receive relief first after the devastating California wildfires.