Vego v. Southern California Edison

Aug 14, 2014

OUTCOME: Confidential

Ashleigh Aitken obtained a confidential settlement for two children who watched in horror from their family home in San Bernardino as three family members came in contact with a live, downed power line ... suffering fatal electrocution injuries. Aitken Aitken Cohn was retained as lead counsel in the matter in a case against the prominent power company. Plaintiffs alleged that the untimely deaths were caused by several failures on the part of the defendant power company. Plaintiffs asserted that defendant improperly installed and maintained the power lines at the plaintiffs’ home which allowed for excessive sag, causing the lines to contact one another, explode, and fall to the ground. In addition, Plaintiffs alleged that defendant’s back up safety system failed, as the power lines improperly remained energized after they fell to the ground. The matter settled for a confidential amount, resulting in PUC fines of over $20 million.