Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP has joined forces with Hawai‘i law firm Davis Levin Livingston and Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger in San Francisco to ensure Maui residents and businesses affected by the Lahaina Fire are given a strong voice and that those responsible for their devastating losses are held accountable.
The Maui wildfire ferociously swept through the historic town of Lahaina, claimed at 97 lives and destroyed nearlyt 3,000 structures — the majority of which were residential. Thousands of people have been displaced from their homes and hundreds more remain missing.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the origin of the Lahaina Fire, now the deadliest U.S. wildfire in the last century, may be attributed to utility-related activities caused by contact between a power line and vegetation during foreseeable hurricane-force winds. Fires caused by the failure of power lines and poorly maintained equipment owned and operated by utility companies regularly ranks among the top sources of wildfires.
Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP has extensive experience in litigation against utility companies and has recovered billions of dollars in restitution for wildfire victims. Appointed by the judiciary, firm attorneys represent plaintiffs in numerous leadership roles including as Co-Lead Counsel in the 2018 Woolsey Fire litigation as well as Co-Lead Counsel and Co-Liaison Counsel in the 2017 Thomas Fire litigation, and served as members of the Executive Committe in the 2017 North Bay Fires litigation.
Collectively, our consortium of law firms has recovered more than one billion dollars for thousands of fire victims who have lost a loved one, suffered catastrophic injuries, or experienced total property loss as a result of utility negligence. While recovering compensation for damages sustained following a wildfire is a lengthy and arduous process, our consortium of law firms has unparalleled experience, resources, and the tenacity to see the matter to conclusion.
If you have questions about your legal options, contact a member of our wildfire team at (808) 646-2153.