Judge Clears Mega Lawsuit Over Deadly Palisades Fire

Lawsuit claims California and LA failed to properly extinguish initial Lachman Fire.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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A judge has cleared the way for a major lawsuit alleging that the state of California and the City of Los Angeles failed to properly extinguish the initial Lachman Fire, which then led to the devastating Palisades Fire that caused significant damage and loss of life.

Why it matters

This lawsuit could have major implications for how government agencies respond to and manage wildfires, with potential impacts on policies, budgets, and liability. The outcome could set an important precedent for holding authorities accountable for the consequences of their actions or inactions during fire emergencies.

The details

The lawsuit claims that officials did not adequately contain and put out the initial Lachman Fire, which then grew into the much larger and more destructive Palisades Fire. This alleged failure to properly manage the initial fire is cited as the root cause of the later disaster.

  • The Lachman Fire broke out in early 2026.
  • The Palisades Fire started shortly after and caused significant damage.

The players

California

The state government of California, which is being sued for its alleged failure to properly manage the initial Lachman Fire.

City of Los Angeles

The local government of Los Angeles, which is also named in the lawsuit for its role in the events leading up to the Palisades Fire.

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What’s next

The judge's ruling clears the way for the mega lawsuit to proceed, setting the stage for a potentially lengthy and high-stakes legal battle over the government's handling of the wildfires.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing scrutiny and accountability that government agencies face when it comes to their response and management of natural disasters like wildfires, which are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change.