Judge Temporarily Rejects Insurers' Summary Judgment Request in Eaton Fire Case

In downtown Los Angeles, Judge Laura Seigle issued a tentative denial of a summary-judgment motion filed by insurers seeking to hold Southern California Edison liable under inverse condemnation for the 2025 Eaton Fire. She ruled the insurers had not met the legal burden to show that wildfires are an inherent risk of the utility’s idle lines, especially since the equipment in question has not been used since 1971. The subrogation plaintiffs, who have already compensated their policy-holders, contend the blaze was sparked by two electrical arc flashes at a decommissioned tower above Altadena.

Edison’s attorney echoed the judge’s view that a “but for” causal connection alone does not satisfy the inverse-condemnation standard. The case remains open for a possible bench trial, where the plaintiffs may still attempt to prove entitlement to damages. The Eaton Fire, which began on Jan. 7, 2025, was among the deadliest and most destructive in state history, causing extensive loss of life and property.