JUSTICE FOR FIRE VICTIMS

If you are a victim of the Rice, Harris, or Witch fires that damaged so many homes in San Diego, you may have a claim against SDG&E and other utility companies. If you have suffered damage resulting from these fires you may contact us at (619) 239-3225 or maria@terrysingleton.com.

Many homeowners and avacado farmers suffered severe loses as a result of the recent Rice, Harris, or Witch fires that devastated areas of San Diego. Many farmers and homeowners are learning that their insurance only covers a portion of their loses. These situations may leave homeowners and farmers bearing the cost of their loses, when insurance companies should properly pay claims and the negligence of SDG&E may have caused the fires. If you suffered loses in the recent fires, call us now to consider an action against SDG&E or your insurance company.

MAJOR VICTORIES AGAINST SDG&E

Keck, et al., v. San Diego Gas & Electric Company, case number N63938
Mowry v. San Diego Gas & Electric, Inc., case number N47601

Utility companies (such as SDG&E) have a legal duty to properly maintain their facilities, including power lines. When utility companies fail to properly maintain power lines, transformers, and other equipment, fires can easily be ignited. This situation can become catastrophic when fires spread because of weather conditions. In 1993, when a wildfire started by SDG&E destroyed more than 20,000 acres in San Diego's Guejito Valley, the attorneys at SINGLETON & DEAN (the predecessor firm to SINGLETON & ASSOCIATES) held SDG&E accountable. The firm filed suits on behalf of 57 homeowners affected by the fires and recovered millions of dollars in damages. (These cases were filed under the title of Keck, et al., v. SDG&E.)

In 1993, the firm sued SDG&E after their client's husband, the late Patrick Mowry, flew a helicopter into SDG&E power lines over I-15 in north-eastern San Diego County. (Mowry v. San Diego Gas & Electric, Inc.) SDG&E's lines were not marked with plastic ball markers and created a dangerous condition for small aircraft and helicopters flying near the ground. Several other individuals, including a decorated Naval aviator, had been killed prior to Mr. Mowry's accident because SDG&E refused to spend the money to put the plastic ball markers on the power lines. After years of denying liability, SDG&E finally changed its position and placed balls on all lines crossing major highways in San Diego County to avoid similar accidents. This case not only resulted in a multi-million dollar award to the families of the decedents, it also corrected a long-standing dangerous condition.

SINGLETON & ASSOCIATES is currently involved in two separate actions against SDG&E involving catastrophic electrical burns suffered by workmen who came into contact with high voltage wires. Trials are scheduled in these cases in January and June of 2008. In each of these cases, SDG&E is liable because it failed to properly inspect its equipment and lines thereby creating dangerous conditions in violation of State law and Public Utility Commission regulations.

By prosecuting these cases, the attorneys at SINGELTON & ASSOCIATES have developed an expertise in identifying the many failures and shortcomings by SDG&E in management and maintenance operations which have directly resulted in some of the recent fires.