Sonoma County to sue PG&E over October fires, seeking up to $25 million in damages
The county is seeking in its planned lawsuit tens of millions of dollars in damages to clear debris, rebuild infrastructure and develop safety measures to prevent future disasters.
The move came about a month after the
Supervisors met in closed session Monday and voted 5-0 to authorize
The suit is expected to be filed before the next court hearing in late February.
"Unfortunately, we live in a world where oftentimes negotiations don't begin until lawsuits begin,"
A
Public records show
"We're aware of the decision by the
With the planned lawsuit,
Legal claims by local governments in such large disasters are not new.
Goldstein, the
The group has conducted its own investigation into the cause and determined
"We believe based on an investigation attorneys put together that
Now, the county will develop a damage estimate. It could be in the
The lawsuit will also seek money for damage to infrastructure such as parks, Goldstein said.
Also, it will push to ensure
In December, the county said it was facing a
"We're seeking to make sure the taxpayers don't bear the brunt of the losses caused by these fires," Goldstein said.
Despite the incomplete state investigations, county supervisors felt it was time to move forward. The court has acted swiftly to consolidate cases and set hearings, signaling it does not wish to see litigation languish. Officials said it was important to be part of the process at an early stage.
"You either choose to be moving with them or they start stepping away from you," Gore said.
Across
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