California-based law firms have filed at least two complaints against Hawaiian utility companies alleging that fires which tore through West Maui on Aug. 8 were ignited by power lines.
Foley Bezek Behle & Curtis of Santa Barbara and Robertson & Associates of Westlake Village on Aug. 12 joined Honolulu’s Lippsmith firm in a class-action filing to Hawaii’s 1st Circuit Court, naming Monica and Rede Eder as initial plaintiffs [1CCV-23-0001045]. A second class-action suit was filed Aug. 12 to Hawaii’s 2nd Circuit Court by Hawaiian firm Revere & Associates and including Hawaii-based lawyers Richard Wilson and Kyle Smith as counsel; it names Nova Burnes as the initial plaintiff [2CCV-23-0000224].