Court consolidates over 130 lawsuits against Southern California Edison

A Los Angeles courtroom held a hearing on March 17 to consolidate over 130 lawsuits against Southern California Edison (SCE) related to the Eaton fire. The judge requested a modified case management order to streamline the process for handling these cases. New plaintiffs, including L.A. County and Pasadena, have joined the lawsuits, which allege SCE's equipment caused the fire that killed 17 people and destroyed over 14,000 structures. Attorneys are seeking to appoint liaisons to improve communication among parties involved. Physical inspections of SCE's equipment are set to begin, focusing on three transmission towers linked to the fire's origin. This follows claims that sparks from power lines ignited nearby brush, with investigations ongoing to determine the fire's cause.