Los Angeles Mudslide Lawsuit – March 2025 Update
People are filing lawsuits because they suffered losses in the mudslides in Los Angeles. They believe the mudslides were made worse because the January 2025 wildfires stripped the region of vegetation, causing burn scars. They are suing Southern California Edison (SCE) and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) because the utilities’ misconduct allegedly started the wildfires or allowed the fires to continue burning. Because of the severe loss of vegetation in Southern California, rainwater was uncontained, leading to dangerous mudslides that destroyed people’s homes and businesses, injured them, and killed their loved ones.
Los Angeles Mudslide Lawsuit Updates
March 18, 2025: Winter Storms Continue to Threaten Burn-Scarred Areas of Los Angeles
Winter storms bringing strong winds and rains continue to bombard southern California and Los Angeles County. Many residents in and around Los Angeles were under evacuation orders due to the potential for mudslides in these areas. The burn-scarred areas are at a high risk of mudslides, which could cause heavy debris flows. Mudslides continue to damage properties in areas burnt by the recent wildfires. People who were injured or lost property to these mudslides can still file lawsuits related to their losses.
March 3, 2025: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Needed to Clean Some Areas Ravaged by Mudslides and Wildfires
Some of the areas hardest hit by wildfires and mudslides have been deemed so toxic that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will undertake cleanup efforts in a second phase. Some areas burned by the Palisades and Eaton fires, which were also impacted by heavy rains and mudslides, contain millions of tons of toxic debris. Property owners whose homes were impacted by heavy rains and mudslides after the wildfires can file lawsuits in hopes of pursuing compensation for their losses.
February 19, 2025: Southern California Takes Stock of Damages and Begins Cleanup After Mudslides and Debris Flows
With the record-breaking storms behind them, Southern California communities began the massive cleanup operation of the wreckage left behind from debris flows and mudslides. Many homes and businesses that survived the historic Palisades Fires last month were overtaken by mud. Duke’s restaurant, a famous eatery in Malibu, still stood after the fires threatened to overtake it but was damaged by flooding from the rare storm. Bulldozers and other equipment are ushered in to clear the roadways, cars, homes, and other structures buried in the debris.
February 14, 2025: Southern California Ravaged by Mudslides and Debris Flow in Burn Scarred Areas
A rare, fierce rainstorm struck places like Altadena, Malibu, and Hollywood Hills, causing a torrent of mudslides and debris flows. The incident swept a firefighter off a road while he was in his vehicle, but he was able to exit the car before it was submerged in the ocean. The roof of Smart & Final, a local grocery store in Azusa, partially collapsed due to a rare storm that tore through the region, which increased the risk of additional mudslides. Some homes that survived the devastating wildfires were leveled or overrun with mud and debris after the storm.
February 13, 2025: Evacuation Orders Put in Place for Areas in Southern California Near Wildfire Zones
On February 13, 2025, many people in Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, and San Bernardino Counties were forced to evacuate as rain threatened to cause mudslides. Up to three inches of rain are expected to fall in portions of Southern California, some of which have not seen rain in over 200 days. Mudslides can come on suddenly, and debris flows can span up to many acres wide, interrupting travel and engulfing people, cars, and houses in their path.
February 11, 2025: Cal OES Issues Mudslide and Debris Flow Warning Ahead of Rains in Burn Scar Regions in Southern California
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services issues a mudslide and debris flow warning ahead of anticipated rains in burn scar areas. Burn scar regions are areas that have been hit by wildfires and are stripped of vegetation. These landscapes are more susceptible to mudslides because the soil cannot soak up water. Instead, the water flows freely on the surface, carrying mud, rocks, and debris.
January 7, 2025: Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst Wildfires Break Out in Southern California
On January 7, 2025, the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst wildfires broke out in Los Angeles County, California. Early reports, such as video footage and photographs, show that these fires may have erupted because of sparks from electrical equipment operated by Southern California Edison. While all three blazes have been contained, they collectively consumed about 39,000 acres of natural habitat, farmland, commercial districts, and residential neighborhoods. Firefighters encountered issues with fighting the Palisades fire because a key reservoir was left empty. These fires left burn scars across the region, which are areas stripped of vegetation.
About the Los Angeles Mudslide Lawsuit:
What Caused the Los Angeles Mudslides?
How the Los Angeles Wildfires Increased Mudslide Risks
Who Can File a Los Angeles Mudslide Lawsuit?
Why Are SoCal Edison and LADWP Being Sued for the Mudslides?
Potential Compensation for Los Angeles Mudslide Victims
How to File a Los Angeles Mudslide Lawsuit
Deadline to File a Los Angeles Mudslide Lawsuit
Los Angeles Mudslide Settlement Amounts Per Person
What Caused the Los Angeles Mudslides?
The January 2025 wildfires that swept through Southern California wiped out thousands of acres of residential, commercial, and natural spaces. The devastating loss of vegetation and plant roots destabilized the soil, putting many areas at a higher risk of erosion. Plant roots hold the soil together, especially during rain, and keep it from breaking free and being washed away.
When the intense rain hit the Malibu, San Fernando Valley, and San Gabriel Valley in February 2025, there was nothing in the soil to stop the water in its tracks. As a result, intense mudslides and landslides careened through the area and overtook people, pets, livestock, houses, businesses, and cars. Mudslides are a common, well-documented hazard after wildfires, and there is an ongoing risk of additional landslides in these fire-ravaged regions.
Recent Wildfires Linked to SCE and LADWP Negligence
Live footage, photographs, and eyewitness testimony suggest that Southern California Edison (SCE) and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) made mistakes that caused the fires or allowed them to spread. For example, security camera footage shows Eaton fires erupting underneath SCE power lines that emitted sparks moments before. LADWP allowed a 117-million-gallon Santa Ynez reservoir to remain dry after being drained in early 2024. The actions of these institutions may have led to much of the devastation in the Palisades, Eaton, and subsequent fires. The many losses people experienced in these fires have led to people filing lawsuits against SCE and LADWP.
How the Los Angeles Wildfires Increased Mudslide Risks
The Los Angeles Wildfires likely increased the likelihood and intensity of mudslides in the area. Vegetation and plant roots trap water and stabilize soil, even during periods of rain or wind. In a desert landscape, what little vegetation remains is critical for capturing water and stabilizing the soil, sand, and rocks. When these elements are not anchored in place, free-flowing water and high winds can move mud and debris great distances.
When wildfires travel through regions, they rob the area of vegetation and create burn scars. As a result, the landscape lacks the natural tools it needs to absorb water and prevent the soil from running off when rain comes.
After the 2018 Thomas Fires, for example, Montecito and Santa Barbara withstood severe mudslides that buried homes under up to 15 feet of rocks, boulders, and debris. Californians are seeing a similar pattern after the January 2025 wildfires, such as the Palisades and Eaton blazes.
Los Angeles County Mudslide Map
Below is a map showing where the mudslides occurred following the wildfire damage in Los Angeles County.
Who Can File a Los Angeles Mudslide Lawsuit?
Anyone impacted by the mudslides in Los Angeles may be eligible for compensation for their losses. People who may qualify for a payout include property owners, businesses, displaced people, and those who were hurt or whose loved ones were killed.
In the 2018 Thomas Fire, the mudslide victims sued SCE and other agencies for their role in causing the fire that left the area vulnerable to mudslides. Victims of the 2025 California wildfires may also have a claim against SCE for their damages. To potentially qualify for a settlement, victims need to show that they suffered harm because of the mudslide, such as physical injuries, property loss, death of a loved one, loss of income, and displacement expenses,
Property Owners Affected by Mudslides
People who rented or owned property in California when the mudslides occurred may qualify for payments from insurance companies or agencies like SCE. Renters and homeowners may receive reimbursement for repairs they had to make or money to compensate for a total loss of their living space. Additionally, people may be able to get a financial award to pay for the loss of or damage to their sheds, garages, cars, and landscaping.
Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Claims
Mudslides can strike quickly and without warning, increasing the risk of people becoming trapped in cars or houses that collapse or become overrun with debris. People may break bones, suffer concussions, or experience soft tissue injuries or fatal wounds in a mudslide or while trying to flee the area.
Businesses Impacted by Mudslides
Topanga Canyon and Los Angeles County businesses have suffered severe losses due to the wildfires and mudslides. Businesses that lost property, inventory, or revenue because of the mudslides may qualify for compensation. For example, if a business had to close down during evacuation orders, they may be able to recoup the loss of sales during that time.
Displacement and Emotional Distress Claims
People who were displaced due to the loss of a home or living space or because of an evacuation order may qualify for reimbursement for these expenses. Additionally, those who experienced emotional distress because of the trauma of losing a house, a pet, a loved one, or a livelihood, or just living through a mudslide may request compensation.
Why Are SoCal Edison and LADWP Being Sued for the Mudslides?
People believe SCE’s negligence in failing to clear off dry brush around its power lines and equipment and not maintaining these structures started fires and allowed them to continue. Additionally, LADWP’s failure to maintain water pressure and have water in the Santa Ynez Reservoir may have prevented firefighters from having the water and water pressure needed to fight the fires. As a result, people believe SCE and LADWP are at fault for the damage to people, livestock, businesses, homes, and pets who were harmed by mudslides in burn-scarred regions in California. These burn scars created an environment that likely made mudslides more intense and damaging.
SCE Negligence and Liability
According to several lawsuits, SoCal Edison is allegedly at fault for how its negligence may have caused the devastating Palisades and Eaton wildfires that consumed thousands of acres of land. Surviving family members of loved ones who died in the fires claim SCE’s faulty electrical equipment emitted the first sparks that ignited dry brush under the structures. Because SCE’s negligence may have caused the wildfires that stripped the land of vegetation, victims are holding SCE accountable for the mudslides that struck the area as well.
LADWP Negligence and Liability
People also claim that LADWP is to blame for the breadth of the wildfires’ destruction because LADWP drained the Santa Ynez reservoir and failed to refill it. As a result, they allege, firefighters did not immediately have the water they needed to combat the fires.
A lack of water pressure in the hydrants is also believed to have hindered firefighting abilities. Like with SCE, claimants believe LADWP is liable for the mudslide damages because its actions may have allowed the fires to continue longer than they would have had the reservoir been filled.
History of Legal Action Against SCE and LADWP for Wildfires
Southern California Edison and Pacific Gas & Electric—the two leading power companies that provide electricity in California—have been held accountable for wildfire-related losses in the past, too. For example, Southern California Edison paid out an enormous settlement because of the Montecito Mudslide in the wake of the Thomas Fire in 2018. Pacific Gas & Electric has also had to pay billions of dollars in settlements and millions in fines because of its role in causing major wildfires in California, like the 2018 Camp Fire, which remains the deadliest in California’s history.
Potential Compensation for Los Angeles Mudslide Victims
Victims may qualify for restitution for mudslide-related damages, such as evacuation costs, medical bills, property repair, and lost revenue. Likewise, those who lost a family member because of the mudslide may be able to receive a compensation package.
Property Damage and Home Repair Costs
Renters and homeowners may receive funds to repair or replace destroyed or damaged houses, sheds, garages, cars, landscaping, fencing, and apartments. Additionally, business owners may request compensation if the mudslide leveled or defaced their stores, restaurants, storage facilities, inventory, equipment, or other commercial materials.
Medical Expenses and Personal Injury Claims
Mudslide victims who experienced physical injuries during the mudslides or evacuation may receive money for related medical bills, treatments, rehabilitative therapy sessions, or long-term care. They may also seek reimbursement for traveling to and from these appointments and paying copays for medication and medical supplies.
Emotional Distress and Non-Economic Damages
Victims may also seek a settlement to address the non-economic impacts of the mudslide and the damage it caused to their families and communities. For example, a survivor’s financial award may speak to the emotional impact, enduring trauma, anxiety, and pain and suffering that the mudslide and its consequences caused them to experience.
Wrongful Death Compensation for Families
Families who lost a loved one in the mudslides or during the evacuations deserve compensation. While nothing can truly measure up to the loss of a loved one, survivors could receive money to reimburse them for the funeral costs, lost future earnings of the deceased, and the loss of companionship. They may also qualify for damages for their mental anguish, pain, and suffering.
How to File a Los Angeles Mudslide Lawsuit
The first step in filing a Los Angeles mudslide lawsuit is to talk to a knowledgeable attorney about your claim. They can help you estimate your potential payout, develop a legal strategy, and represent you during the insurance or court process.
Next, you and your attorney would collect evidence to support your allegations against SCE, LADWP, and others who are at fault for your losses. Then, you or your lawyer would prepare and file the complaint with the correct court before the statute of limitations expires.
Deadline to File a Los Angeles Mudslide Lawsuit
If you would like to sue SCE or LADWP, you need to take this step before the applicable statute of limitations expires. The statute of limitations is the filing deadline, and its length depends on what kind of lawsuit you are bringing and against whom.
For example, claims against governmental agencies—like LADWP—may have a six-month filing deadline. However, lawsuits against individuals or private businesses—like Southern California Edison—may have a deadline that is two to three years from when the incident occurred. An attorney who is knowledgeable about property damage, personal injuries, and associated lawsuits can help you determine what your filing due dates are and take steps to meet these.
Los Angeles Mudslide Settlement Amounts Per Person
Los Angeles mudslide settlement amounts may reach up to $50,000 and $10 million, depending on a range of factors. However, the exact amount someone may receive changes based on their unique situation, and a payout is not guaranteed.
Factors that can change someone’s mudslide settlement include the overall strength of their legal claims, the losses they sustained, the laws in effect at that time, and whether they filed their claim before the statute of limitations ran out. Settlements will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis after considering the legal arguments and evidence presented in that situation.
Contact a Los Angeles Mudslide Lawyer Today
If you were impacted by the Los Angeles mudslides, consider consulting with a lawyer who is experienced in filing lawsuits related to environmental disasters. A personal injury attorney can have a confidential conversation with you about your experience, how the mudslide impacted you and your family, and what legal rights you have. They can help you take a stand against those whose actions harmed you and your loved ones.
King Law stands ready to take your call. We have helped dozens of personal injury victims seek justice after accidents like wildfires and mudslides uproot their lives. Dial (585) 496-2648 to talk to an intake specialist on our team and schedule a free consultation.
King Law’s Role in Los Angeles Mudslide Claims
King Law has a suite of resources and legal experience to help mudslide victims bring and defend their legal claims. When you work with King Law, you gain access to the following:
- Attorneys with experience negotiating personal injury and property damage lawsuits
- In-house intake staff who can answer your questions
- 24/7 access to your legal team
- Legal services that are customized to fit your situation
Additionally, you get the peace of mind of knowing a trained lawyer is reviewing and managing your case, freeing up your time and energy to recover after the trauma of the mudslide. Plus, our firm does not charge any upfront legal fees, and you do not pay us a penny in legal fees unless we win your case for you and you receive a payout.