{"id":2393856,"date":"2025-01-22T14:32:01","date_gmt":"2025-01-22T19:32:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-orders-california-utility-to-preserve-evidence-in-eaton-fire-as-lawsuits-pile-up-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-01-22T14:34:20","modified_gmt":"2025-01-22T19:34:20","slug":"judge-orders-california-utility-to-preserve-evidence-in-eaton-fire-as-lawsuits-pile-up-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-orders-california-utility-to-preserve-evidence-in-eaton-fire-as-lawsuits-pile-up-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Judge orders California utility to preserve evidence in Eaton fire as lawsuits pile up &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">34<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fjudge-orders-california-utility-to-preserve-evidence-in-eaton-fire-as-lawsuits-pile-up-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2393856&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A Los \u200cAngeles judge, Ashfaq Chowdhury,\u200b has ordered Southern California Edison (SCE) to preserve all data, equipment, and evidence connected to the Eaton fire, wich has \u200cdevastated over 14,100 acres and resulted in 17 \u2064fatalities. This\u200d ruling comes \u2064amid rising lawsuits against\u200d the utility company, including one from Evangeline Iglesias, whose home \u200bwas destroyed in the blaze. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-doj-is-hiding-information-about-bidens-attempts-to-interfere-in-u-s-elections\/\" title=\"The DOJ Is Hiding Information About Biden\u2019s Attempts To Interfere In U.S. Elections\">judge mandated<\/a> that SCE provide\u200c data from the \u2062power circuits nearest to the fire&#8217;s origin and any relevant power grid data for the affected areas as\u2062 soon as it is available.iglesias&#8217;s attorney praised the ruling, expressing concern over the utility&#8217;s past actions in response to major fires, suggesting they have tried to destroy crucial evidence amidst the chaos.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Judge orders California utility to preserve evidence in Eaton fire as lawsuits pile up<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1936142\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/los-angeles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Los Angeles judge \">Los Angeles judge <\/a>on Tuesday ordered <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sce.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Los Angeles judge \">Southern California Edison<\/a> to preserve all its data, equipment, and evidence related to the deadly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3295026\/three-fires-prompt-evacuations-near-san-diego-overnight\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Los Angeles judge \">Eaton fire<\/a>, which has already burned more than 14,100 acres, destroyed 9,416 structures, and claimed 17 lives.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The ruling was issued by L.A. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lacourt.org\/judicialofficers\/ui\/SearchResult.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Superior Court Judge Ashfaq Chowdhury\">Superior Court Judge Ashfaq Chowdhury<\/a> following a request from an attorney representing Evangeline Iglesias, an Altadena woman who is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3288361\/blame-game-california-fires-grow-lawsuits-recall-efforts-gain-steam\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"suing \">suing <\/a>the company after&nbsp;her home burned down. Altadena is north of Pasadena.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Firefighters battle the Eaton Fire as it engulfs structures Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Altadena, California. (AP Photo\/Nic Coury)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Chowdhury also gave the Southern California utility until the&nbsp;end of the week to produce data from the four circuits closest to where the Eaton fire started and said the company needs to produce power grid data for all circuits in Eaton Canyon and Altadena &ldquo;as soon as it becomes&nbsp;reasonably&nbsp;available,&rdquo; <em>Bloomberg Law<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/news.bloomberglaw.com\/us-law-week\/edison-utility-has-days-to-produce-la-fire-data-on-four-circuits\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"reported\">reported<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>Iglesias&rsquo;s lawyer, Ali Moghaddas, applauded the decision.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Utility companies have a troubling history of exploiting the chaos during and after major fires to destroy or tamper with critical evidence,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Today&rsquo;s court order sends a clear message: That won&rsquo;t happen here.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Attorneys suing Southern California Edison alleged that the company had purposely destroyed equipment and evidence in past cases that challenged&nbsp;whether they were at fault in sparking fires.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>According to Chowdhury&rsquo;s order, Southern California Edison is required to turn over data about the electrical towers to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lawyers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">attorneys<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Iglesias&rsquo;s lawsuit is one of 20 that have already been filed against the utility. Specifically, her lawsuit claims the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">utility company started&#038;nbsp<\/a>;the fire after ignoring warnings to shut down its power equipment.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Ahead of Tuesday&rsquo;s order, Moghaddas&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/nation\/2025\/01\/13\/wildfire-lawsuit-california-utility-company\/77682312007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">said<\/a>&nbsp;the lawsuit was filed quickly to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/whistleblower-transcripts-show-deep-state-election-rigging-for-biden-was-way-bigger-than-a-laptop\/\" title=\"Whistleblower transcripts reveal extensive deep-state election rigging favoring Biden, surpassing laptop controversy.\">preserve potential evidence<\/a> that could help reconstruct the scene later in court.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Southern California Edison and other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/blame-game-for-california-fires-grows-as-lawsuits-and-recall-efforts-gain-steam-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Blame game for California fires grows as lawsuits and recall efforts gain steam - Washington Examiner\">power companies operating<\/a> in the area have issued statements saying they followed California Public Utilities Commission guidelines.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Southern California Edison&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/marriott-sues-after-hotel-is-converted-to-migrant-shelter\/\" title=\"Marriott Sues After Hotel Is Converted to Migrant Shelter\">parent company&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s CEO, Pedro Pizarro,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/US\/officials-investigate-role-utility-companies-la-fires\/story?id=117631794\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">told ABC News<\/a>&nbsp;that they have &ldquo;not been able to get up close to the equipment yet because firefighters have not deemed the area safe for entry.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;As soon as we can get&nbsp;close to it, we&rsquo;ll inspect and we&rsquo;ll be transparent with the public,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>But Moghaddas has called Pizarro&rsquo;s claims of transparency a sham and said the company has not been honest about which lines and transmission towers were de-energized during the peak of the winds.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;They had the tools to try to mitigate the possibility of this wildfire, and instead, they chose to ignore those warnings,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>On Tuesday,&nbsp;Kathleen Dunleavy, spokeswoman for Southern California Edison, said in a statement that the company &ldquo;would be transparent in this investigation, we have been transparent, and we will continue to be transparent.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Eaton Fire, the second largest, began just a few hours after the Palisades Fire broke out&nbsp;in the coastal west Los Angeles communities of Pacific Palisades and Malibu on Jan. 7. Combined, there have been 25 reported deaths in connection to the fires.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER \">CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Fire agencies have already said they are investigating links between Southern California Edison and a still-burning Hurst Fire.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In recent years, Southern California Edison has paid out hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements related to seven other wildfires.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1936142\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1936142\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Judge mandates Southern California Edison to retain evidence from Eaton fire amid rising lawsuits<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2646,"featured_media":2393857,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/AP25009047591799.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[4045,49013,10766],"class_list":["post-2393856","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-california","tag-eaton-fire","tag-utility"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/AP25009047591799.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2393856","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2646"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2393856"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2393856\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2393860,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2393856\/revisions\/2393860"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2393857"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2393856"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2393856"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2393856"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}