Malibu Reaches $13.7 Million Woolsey Fire Settlement With SCE

MALIBU, CA — The City of Malibu reached a $13.7 million settlement with Southern California Edison to "resolve wildfire claims" resulting from the Woolsey Fire, which broke out in November 2018, the City announced Wednesday.

The city's settlement is part of a larger $360 million settlement for a group of 23 public entities with various claims from the 2017 Thomas and Koenigstein Fires, the 2018 Montecito Debris Flows and the 2018 Woolsey Fire. But the settlement doesn't affect claims made by individuals, residents and businesses affected by the fires in Southern California, the press release said. Damages included lost taxpayer resources such as lost revenues, lost property, increased expenditures and lost community assets such as environmental and recreational resources as well as government infrastructure.

"Malibu experienced one of the worst disasters in the City’s history and suffered millions of dollars in taxpayer losses from the Woolsey Fire," Mayor Karen Farrer said. "This settlement will help the City continue to provide services to the community and keep moving forward with our recovery."

Judge Jay Gandhi (Ret.), a Mediator with JAMS arbitration services, presided over several days of in-person mediation sessions held in Los Angeles, the press release said.

The mediation process included 23 public entities with various claims from the 2017 Thomas and Koenigstein Fires, the 2018 Montecito Debris Flows and the 2018 Woolsey Fire. After multiple days of mediation, Judge Gandhi arranged settlements for a combined total of $360 million, covering the fires and debris flows, the press release said. Edison and all 23 public entities accepted the proposals.

Entities who settled regarding the Woolsey Fire included: the City of Malibu, county of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Flood Control District, Consolidated Fire Protection District of Los Angeles County, county of Ventura, Ventura County Watershed Protection District, Ventura County Fire Protection District, city of Agoura Hills, city of Westlake Village, city of Calabasas, city of Hidden Hills, Conejo Recreation & Park District, Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency, Rancho Simi Recreation & Park District and the city of Thousand Oaks, according to Southern California Edison.

Malibu is represented by the City Attorney, Christi Hogin and John Natalizio from Best, Best and Krieger, and by outside counsel, Baron & Budd attorneys Scott Summy, John Fiske, Torri Sherlin, and Stephen Johnston, who represent 45 public entities in wildfire settlements statewide.

This settlement resolves the legal damages asserted by the City of Malibu against SCE and its parent company for damages suffered as a result of the Woolsey Fire.

Settlement funds will be paid in December 2019 and the public entities will dismiss their cases against Southern California Edison.

Related: Adapting, Learning And Soul-Searching: Reflecting On Woolsey Fire