Panish Shea partners named co-lead counsel in SoCal fires litigation

Brian Panish and Rahul Ravipudi, partners at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP, have been named as individual plaintiffs’ co-lead counsel in the multi-lawsuit Southern California fires litigation.

After the 2017 Thomas fire, lawsuits started piling up, alleging Southern California Edison Co. crews working in the hills above the Ventura Ranch campground in Santa Paula in part caused the fire.

According to a press release on Friday, Panish and Ravipudi will represent more than 1,500 plaintiffs in lawsuits against the utility company.

The appointment was ordered by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Daniel J. Buckley on July 11.

“We’re ready to get to work, holding those accountable for the catastrophic losses of the victims and fighting proposed legislation that would allow utilities ... to pass the cost of their negligence on to the ratepayers,” Ravipudi said in the press release.

Spokespersons for Southern California Edison Co. were contacted for comment but they said they cannot comment on ongoing litigation.