The City of Malibu will see Southern California Edison in court.
“City council unanimously authorized the filing of a lawsuit against Southern California Edison, Edison International and any related entities or other defendants and parties that may have liability arising from the Woolsey Fire of November 2018,” City Attorney Christi Hogin announced at the top of the public portion of the Monday, April 22, Malibu City Council meeting.
The decision was made during a closed-session discussion Monday evening. Hogin’s statement was met with a smattering of applause among those gathered in the audience.
The city’s suit follows lawsuits filed by several private citizens against the utility, which has widely been blamed for the blaze that tore through Ventura and Los Angeles counties on November 8-9, 2018. The fire was still being studied as of April 2019 and there was no official determination of cause or accountability established.
The fire killed three people. It destroyed 1,500 structures, including 479 properties in Malibu, according to information from the city. It also racked up millions of dollars in unforeseen expenses to the city’s budget.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.