The Pasadena Unified School District Friday, March 21, announced that it had filed a lawsuit against Southern California Edison to seek compensation for damages to district properties in the Eaton fire.
Franklin Elementary School, Eliot Arts Magnet Middle School, Odyssey Charter School, Pasadena Rosebud Academy, Oak Knoll Montessori and Aveson School of Leaders suffered extensive damage in the fire, according to the district.
“The destruction of multiple schools and educational facilities has created an immense burdenon students, families, and the entire educational community,” John Fiske, an attorney representing the district, said in a statement. “This lawsuit seeks fair compensation to recover the taxpayer resources and district property lost as a result of this devastating fire.”
PUSD joins the cities of Pasadena and Sierra Madre as well as Los Angeles County as public entities that have sued the public utility. On Monday, the attorneys of more than 100 plaintiffs appeared at a hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court to come up with a plan of how to manage the number of lawsuits filed against SCE.
According to the district, the lawsuit includes SCE’s own regulatory filings that acknowledge electrical system anomalies that coincide with the fire’s ignition time and location.
The board of education announced at a previous meeting that it had voted in closed session to initiate litigation against SoCal Edison in connection with the damage caused by the Eaton fire.
SCE did not immediately respond with comment.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.