Families File Death-Related Lawsuits Tied to Palisades Fire

By MES Dispatch staff

The Briefing

• More than a dozen lawsuit filings allege deaths tied to the 2025 Palisades Fire in California, including suicide and terminal illness claims. FireRescue1
• Plaintiffs filed the death-related claims before a state law allowing broader damage claims expired Dec. 31, 2025. FireRescue1
• Lawsuits name the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and multiple other entities as defendants. PR Newswire
• Families allege trauma and fire-related conditions hastened or contributed to their relatives’ deaths. PRESSBEE
• Defendants, including SoCalGas, have issued statements disputing responsibility for the fire and its impacts. FireRescue1

LOS ANGELES, CA — Families of wildfire victims have filed lawsuits alleging that trauma and illness following the 2025 Palisades Fire contributed to suicides and terminal illness deaths, according to court filings and legal notices. FireRescue1

More than a dozen plaintiffs added death-related claims to existing litigation against the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), Southern California Gas Company, Southern California Edison and other entities, according to legal filings. PR Newswire

The lawsuits were filed in late 2025 under California Senate Bill 447, a pilot law that expired Dec. 31, 2025, permitting recovery for decedents’ pain and suffering. Plaintiffs sought to meet the filing deadline before the law’s expiration. FireRescue1

Among the claims is an action by the widow of a man who took his own life after suffering months of distress following the loss of his home and belongings in the fire. Families of other victims allege that their relatives’ deaths from prostate cancer, colorectal cancer and myelofibrosis were hastened by conditions and trauma associated with evacuations and property loss. PRESSBEE

The master complaint against LADWP and co-defendants also alleges that operational factors, including dry hydrants and utility infrastructure failures, contributed to the spread and impact of the fire. Defendants, including SoCalGas, have issued statements saying they dispute liability and noting efforts to support recovery and infrastructure repair. FireRescue1