Woolsey Fire trial to start in January

A judge plans to have two bellwether trials in the Woolsey Fire litigation commence by January 2020, which means they would be heard earlier than the Thomas Fire litigation, despite the fact that the latter occurred a year earlier.

Both trials are expected to last up to 15 days, according to the decision Friday by Los Angeles County Judge William F. Highberger. Southern California Fires, JCCP 5000.

The state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has yet to release its full report of the investigation into the Woolsey Fire, which was sparked at a Rocketdyne facility in Simi Valley last November. The blaze charred more than 96,000 acres in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

The Thomas Fire litigation (Southern California Fires

Thousands of plaintiffs have sued Southern California Edison, blaming it for both fires. "On behalf of the plaintiffs, we're pleased the court is setting trial dates so quickly," said Alexander Robertson of Robertson & Associates LLP. "It means there will be resolution of the claims in a timely fashion."

Highberger also indicated he would appoint Robertson & Associates LLP, Panish Shea Boyle LLP and Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP as the plaintiffs' leadership counsel for Woolsey, agreeing that the structure was necessary in such complex mass tort cases.

Friday's ruling puts an end to the contentious battle between proposed leadership counsel and plaintiffs' attorney Gerald Singleton of Singleton Law Firm in San Diego over the imposition of such a structure. He said the plaintiffs leadership kept his clients from moving forward more quickly. Arguments spanned many declarations, oppositions and multiple hearings.

The next court date is scheduled for June 26.

-- Gina Kim