Over 75 lawsuits filed alleging mudslides were caused by Thomas Fire
By AMANDA LEE MYERS, Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A California utility facing a slew of lawsuits over a deadly Southern California wildfire sued Santa Barbara County and the state’s transportation department on Friday, saying they neglected to prepare for deadly mudslides that followed the blaze.
Southern California Edison filed the action against the county and Caltrans over mudslides that killed 23 people and destroyed hundreds of homes in the community of Montecito last year.
The county and other officials knew debris flows were common in the area and that “such an event would inevitably reoccur,” according to the lawsuit.
The officials failed to minimize the risk in advance, allowed development in hazard
