January 22, 2026, Altadena, California — On January 16, 2026, Southern California Edison and related entities filed a cross-complaint in the Eaton Fire litigation against various public entities and public and private community-owned water suppliers. Included among the cross-defendants were community-owned Lincoln Avenue Water Company and Rubio Cañon Land and Water Association (jointly, the “Companies”).
“Given that the Companies are owned by many of the victims of the Eaton Fire, this cross-complaint has created a situation where the Edison entities are effectively suing the victims of their alleged negligence and statutory violations,” said attorney Jim Ciampa, general counsel to the Companies. As mutual water companies, the Companies may only provide water service to property-owners who own shares within their boundaries, and any non-shareholder residents of those areas. Such shareholders comprise the board of directors of each company.
“The Companies are disappointed that the Edison entities took this step to shift blame. Edison leadership has publicly acknowledged that their own equipment was the likely cause of the fire, which rendered various facilities of the Companies inoperable,” Rubio General Manager Lisa Yamashita-Lopez. “The Companies, on behalf of the communities we serve, will vigorously defend this lawsuit, which will be determined by the evidence, including the findings of ongoing public and private investigations, and not the unsupported claims made in the cross-complaint” stated Jennifer Betancourt Torres, General Manager of Lincoln Avenue Water Company.
David Armstrong, Chair of the Small Water Systems Disaster Response Taskforce said: “Small water systems all over California will benefit from the vigorous fight the Altadena Companies are making on behalf of their community in holding a large utility like Edison accountable. Edison’s lawsuit against Altadena’s fire victims includes much misinformation and simply incorrect facts.”
The Companies themselves experienced significant losses as a result of the Eaton Fire and many of their shareholders and customers experienced devastating and life-altering damages, including death of family members, loved ones, and the demise of their homes. The Companies are pursuing their legal remedies in the Eaton Fire litigation and in that litigation will seek accountability and recovery for the resources lost and harms experienced. That litigation will proceed on the merits and the evidence will ultimately speak for itself in that process.
Contact:
Jim Ciampa, Lagerlof, LLP
626-793-9400
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