Wildfire Case Experience

CaseyGerry and the law firms of Thomas Tosdal and Michael Feinberg have had critical roles in numerous fire litigation matters. Below is a snapshot of our legal team’s involvement in present and past cases surrounding California wildfires over the years.

Butte County Camp Fire Lawsuits, 2018

CaseyGerry’s David S. Casey, Jr., Thomas Penfield, and Angela Jae Chun, and the law firms of Thomas Tosdal and Michael Feinberg have played critical roles in the Butte County Camp Fire Lawsuit.

The fire litigation team filed a complaint on behalf of Retired Police Chief Kirk Trostle and his wife Patty Garrison. The Garrison’s home, its contents, and their property burned to the ground in the Camp Fire, caused by a faulty PG&E power line. Twenty-five members of the Garrisons’ extended family also lost their homes and properties as a result of the Camp Fire.

The three firms filed a lawsuit on behalf of 35 families. The complaint claims that PG&E knew about sparks falling from power lines in Paradise over the course of two years but failed to repair the issue.

Three weeks later, the team filed a lawsuit on behalf of 47 more families against PG&E for failing to safely and properly maintain its power lines and equipment, resulting in the loss of nearly everything they owned in the Camp fire.

For up-to-date information on the ongoing litigation matters, click here.

California North Bay Fires Lawsuits, 2017

Managing partner, David S. Casey, Jr., partner, Thomas Penfield and of-counsel attorney Angela Jae Chun of San Diego-based CaseyGerry joined forces with experienced California power line attorneys The Tosdal Law Firm and Temecula-based attorney Michael S. Feinberg to form the Power Line Fire Lawyers legal group.

The fire litigation team represents wineries, businesses and homeowners who have suffered significant injuries and damages as a result of the October 2017 California North Bay fires and have filed lawsuits against utility giant Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E).

The California North Bay fires caused an estimated $4 billion in losses, burning over 200,000 acres and destroying thousands of structures including vineyards/wineries, businesses and homes, and killing 43 people in Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Butte and Lake.

If you or a loved experienced property damage, serious personal injury or winery/business loss as a result of the fires, please contact us at (619) 238-1811.

Las Conchas, NM Power Line Fire Lawsuit, 2015

The Las Conchas Fire was the largest fire in the state’s history at the time. The fire began after a wind gust caused a tree to fall across power lines. More than 150,000 acres burned. In 2015, two New Mexico pueblos sued Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative and the U.S. Forest Service for failing “to take reasonable precautions to prevent and suppress forest fires,” according to the complaint. Thomas Tosdal and two colleagues tried the case to a jury in New Mexico. After an 18-day trial, they proved the two electric utilities had negligently caused the fire, and they ultimately won the case and recovered millions of dollars for the victims.

Click here for more details about the Las Conchas fire lawsuit.

San Diego Wildfire Lawsuits, 2007

In 2007, a chain of wildfires in San Diego County killed 10 people, destroyed more than 1,700 homes, and consumed more than 368,000 acres. Utility company SDG&E acknowledged that their power lines started some of those fires. Thomas Tosdal and Michael Feinberg were part of the legal team in the San Diego fire litigation in 2007 and successfully recovered more than half a billion dollars for hundreds of families.

For more information on the 2007 San Diego wildfire litigation, click here.

We welcome you to contact CaseyGerry at (619) 238-1811 if you have questions about these cases or need assistance as a victim of the 2019 Kincade or Easy Fires.

CaseyGerry

“This is the go-to firm in San Diego for catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. They have the experience and reputation to secure the best results….and do so consistently.”
– Facebook Review

“We can highly recommend Casey Gerry law firm, as they represented us very capably and professionally in a complex personal injury lawsuit.  They left no stone unturned as they pursued every detail that bore upon our case. Most important, we found their ethics to be impeccable. We are also grateful for the warmth and consideration they showed us during a stressful time.  Our case was resolved in mediation with an outcome that far exceeded our expectations. The firm has a strong record of success and it is easy to see why, as their attorneys are top-notch, their investigator excellent, their staff efficient, and their strategies for this type of case most effective.” – Google Review

“Casey Gerry is hands down the best and only firm I would trust now having been fortunate enough to work with them. My own case was complex due to many factors, and Robert as well as many others on the team did everything they could to communicate with me at all times the goals, progress and results for my case.” – Google Review

Thomas Penfield

“Tom Penfield and his staff are pleasant and professional, I highly recommend them.”
– Facebook Review

“This an award winning law firm that you can trust. There is a reason these guys are consistently ranked number one, and it’s in the results, the care you get, and the drive to see your case resolved to your desires.  I worked with Tom Penfield in particular, and within 5 mins of meeting him, I knew I could not only trust him, but believe in him. Lawyers get a bad rap, but this guy is all heart.” – Google Review

Angela Jae Chun and Tom Tosdal

“I am pleased to provide my strongest possible recommendation for both Angela Jae and Tom Tosdal whom my wife and I have come to know as honest, straight forward and very skilled litigators. My wife and I lost our home in the 2007 Witch Creek – Guejito Fires. Whichever group you may be in, you need attorneys like Tom Tosdal and Angie Jae to help you navigate such an ordeal. You can be made whole again, but you will need help. My wife and I remain so very grateful to both Tom and Angie for their professional behavior, their integrity and their compassion. They have made a difference in our lives and the lives of our children. That is a rare something that we do not encounter very often in life and cannot be underestimated.” – Witch Creek Guejito Fire Victim

Michael Feinberg

“Michael Feinberg, and his team, have been engaged full-time in litigating power line fire cases for over 10 years. Their track record is unparalleled. You will not see Michael’s name or face on a television commercial or billboard because that’s not who he is or how he operates. He and his team don’t try to sign up thousands of victims. Instead, they choose to offer personalized representation to a much smaller pool of clients. Their clients come from personal recommendations and word of mouth. They work tirelessly on behalf of their clients and are tenacious about protecting their rights. Not only are Michael and his partner, Tom Tosdal, outstanding practitioners, they are men of integrity and heart. I recommend them without hesitation.” – Atlas Peak Fire Victim

Tom Tosdal and Michael Feinberg

​​​​​​​“I have never seen a better overall courtroom presentation than what I saw Tom Tosdal do as lead counsel for the Cochiti Indian Tribe. He and his team, including Michael Feinberg did an extraordinary job in preparation, briefing and presenting the overall case.” – H. Vern Payne, Retired Chief Justice, New Mexico Supreme Court

“This is the go-to firm in San Diego for catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. They have the experience and reputation to secure the best results….and do so consistently.”

“Casey Gerry is hands down the best and only firm I would trust now having been fortunate enough to work with them. My own case was complex due to many factors, and Robert as well as many others on the team did everything they could to communicate with me at all times the goals, progress and results for my case.”

“Tom Penfield and his staff are pleasant and professional, I highly recommend them.”

“This an award winning law firm that you can trust. There is a reason these guys are consistently ranked number one, and it’s in the results, the care you get, and the drive to see your case resolved to your desires. I worked with Tom Penfield in particular, and within 5 mins of meeting him, I knew I could not only trust him, but believe in him. Lawyers get a bad rap, but this guy is all heart.”

“I am pleased to provide my strongest possible recommendation for both Angela Jae and Tom Tosdal whom my wife and I have come to know as honest, straight forward and very skilled litigators. My wife and I lost our home in the 2007 Witch Creek – Guejito Fires. Whichever group you may be in, you need attorneys like Tom Tosdal and Angie Jae to help you navigate such an ordeal. You can be made whole again, but you will need help. My wife and I remain so very grateful to both Tom and Angie for their professional behavior, their integrity and their compassion. They have made a difference in our lives and the lives of our children. That is a rare something that we do not encounter very often in life and cannot be underestimated.”

“Michael Feinberg, and his team, have been engaged full-time in litigating power line fire cases for over 10 years. Their track record is unparalleled. You will not see Michael’s name or face on a television commercial or billboard because that’s not who he is or how he operates. He and his team don’t try to sign up thousands of victims. Instead, they choose to offer personalized representation to a much smaller pool of clients. Their clients come from personal recommendations and word of mouth. They work tirelessly on behalf of their clients and are tenacious about protecting their rights. Not only are Michael and his partner, Tom Tosdal, outstanding practitioners, they are men of integrity and heart. I recommend them without hesitation.”

“I have never seen a better overall courtroom presentation than what I saw Tom Tosdal do as lead counsel for the Cochiti Indian Tribe. He and his team, including Michael Feinberg did an extraordinary job in preparation, briefing and presenting the overall case.”