Los Angeles Seeks Shared Responsibility for Palisades Fire if Victims Win Lawsuits
City of Los Angeles Files Cross-Complaint in Palisades Fire Litigation
The City of Los Angeles has initiated a legal maneuver aimed at addressing potential civil liabilities related to the Palisades fire. This cross-complaint, filed late Thursday by the office of City Attorney Heidi Feldstein Soto, requests that the State of California, along with its Natural Resources Agency, Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, share in any financial responsibilities stemming from lawsuits filed by fire victims.
This legal action comes just days before a judge is set to review both the City and State’s demurrers, which seek to dismiss the lawsuits on the grounds that they do not meet the necessary legal criteria for holding government agencies accountable for the damages caused by the fire.
“To the extent that any claims against Cross-Complainants survive the demurrer and result in any judgments or liability or monetary payments by Cross-Complainants, Cross-Complainants bring this Complaint to ensure that any liability or payments are fairly and equitably apportioned among the parties,” the filing states.
The City Attorney’s office has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the filing, as it generally refrains from commenting on ongoing litigation. In previous legal documents related to the Palisades incident, the City has consistently denied any accountability for the disaster.
"Cross-Complainants do not admit the truth of any of the allegations in the Master Complaint and expressly deny that they are liable for damages resulting from the Palisades Fire," the City asserted.
Additionally, the cross-complaint references a claim for damages filed by the City with the State last July, a preliminary step that often precedes litigation against government entities. The document indicates that the state has not yet responded to this claim.
