Hueston Hennigan to defend Edison in Eaton Fire litigation

Hueston Hennigan LLP has signed on to represent Southern California Edison in litigation stemming from the wildfires in Los Angeles County.

Founder John Hueston along with partners Doug Dixon, Brittany Jackson, Andrew Walsh are leading the team.

The firm declined to discuss the litigation.

At least seven lawsuits have been filed against Edison in connection with the Eaton Fire, which claimed the lives of at least 16 people and damaged or destroyed approximately 5,000 structures in Altadena and the surrounding foothills.

The exact cause of the wildfire has not been determined, but plaintiffs' attorneys allege it may have been triggered by either direct contact between power infrastructure and vegetation or by sparks from the infrastructure igniting nearby vegetation.

Jeff Monford, a spokesman for Southern California Edison, said earlier this week, "Our hearts remain with our communities during the devastating fires in Southern California, and we remain committed to supporting them through this difficult time. SCE crews, contractors and mutual assistance partners are dedicated to safely restoring power to our customers."

Hueston Hennigan has provided legal representation to Edison and other utilities in many of the West Coast's most significant wildfires in recent years. Additionally, the firm represents the state of Hawaii in litigation related to the devastating wildfire that destroyed Lahaina on Maui in 2023.