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San Diego Fire Litigation Lawyer
Wildfires, building fires and electrical fires are catastrophic events requiring experienced litigation strategies and skillful resolution techniques. These cases are expert driven. They typically present very serious injuries and significant property damage. The lawyers of Campbell, Lauter & Murphy have handled many fire litigation cases and have the experience required to obtain the compensation a client deserves. Let us speak to your insurance company for you. We can negotiate, attempt a settlement, and if necessary will take the case to trial.
Representative Cases Handled:
Nationwide Mutual Insurance v. Evans
(San Diego Superior Court)
This is a multi-million dollar liability claim involving the 2002 "Gavalin Fire" in San Diego County. Approximately 40 residences were destroyed or damaged in a brush fire that was allegedly started because of an agricultural burn 48-72 hours earlier. Numerous insurance companies (who had paid claims to first party insureds) have sought subrogation for amounts paid for the homeowners' losses. Forty-eight (48) homeowners have also filed for amounts that were not compensated by insurance. The California Department of Forestry and the North County Fire Protection District submitted claims for the cost of controlling the fire. The total damage claim exceeds $35,000,000. Our client (San Diego Shutter) is an Orange County business that, unfortunately, had on its payroll two ranch hands that worked on an avocado ranch owned by the owner of San Diego Shutter. Motions for summary judgment as to whether the ranch hands were truly employees of San Diego Shutter are pending. Because the injured plaintiffs have demanded personal contributions towards any settlement by the family that owns San Diego Shutter and the subject avocado ranch (the Evanses), this case has not been settled. The case and all discovery has been stayed until the statute of limitations has run for all such claims. The total amount of insurance coverage for this $35,000,000 demand is approximately $1,500,000. Both the cause and origin of the fire are in dispute.
The MGM Grand Hotel Consolidated Fire Cases
(United States District Court for the District of Nevada)
In the Federal Multi-District Litigation and class action that followed the disastrous hotel fire at the Las Vegas MGM Grand Hotel, CML represented a major corporate defendant, owned by a Fortune 100 company, which supplied and installed certain plastic components in the hotel. When the plastics were heated and burned, they emitted deadly gases, which allegedly contributed to many deaths and injuries. Our law firm's aggressive defense resulted in extracting the client from the litigation before trial for a nominal, nuisance-value settlement in the class-action settlement.
The above list is representative of some of the cases that have been handled by Campbell, Lauter & Murphy and its partners. For more information, please contact CLM directly.
