LA City Faces New Lawsuit Over Failure to Contain Lachman Fire, Fueling Palisades Blaze

A new lawsuit filed last Friday has added to a growing list of legal actions against Los Angeles city and county officials, accusing them of negligence in the handling of the Lachman Fire that sparked the devastating Palisades Fire.

Growing Legal Fallout After Palisades Fire

The number of lawsuits against the city and county of Los Angeles grew Monday after a homeowner filed a complaint, alleging the governments failed to act accordingly before and during the Palisades Fire.

Details of the Complaint

In the lawsuit filed last Friday, a homeowner, only named as Aurora Point, LLC, claimed his or her home on Rustic Lane became uninhabitable because the city and county agencies failed to extinguish and monitor the Lachman Fire, a smaller brush fire that broke out on Jan. 1, 2025.

Allegations of Negligence and Communication Failures

Reflecting federal prosecutors’ claims that the Lachman fire wasn’t fully put out and ended up becoming a “zombie fire,” a smoldering fire before it exploded into the much larger Palisades Fire, the homeowner accused the local governments of negligence.

Also based on the latest findings from the after‑action report, the plaintiff blamed the local government for causing “breakdowns in inter‑agency communication” as well as staffing and equipment shortages.

Mayor Karen Bass Named as Defendant

\”Much of the botched response was due to the absence and continuing negligence of Mayor Karen Bass, who had inexplicably left the country for a diplomatic visit to Ghana while Los Angeles burned,\” said the complaint, which also named Mayor Bass as one of the defendants. \”The investigation into the Mayor’s mishandling of the crisis revealed that Mayor Bass’ office ignored critical emails warning of a potentially devastating inferno, which included multiple attachments from the National Weather Service charting the danger.\”

Health and Resource Concerns

Other claims made by Aurora Point, LLC appear to be similar to the previous wildfire‑related lawsuits, saying the Santa Ynez Reservoir was empty or underutilized when the Palisades Fire broke out, leaving hydrants and water resources inadequate.

Aurora Point, LLC also claimed the homeowner and the family faced health risks linked to smoke and debris from the fire.

Legal Representation and Demands

The plaintiff is represented by celebrity attorney Mark Geragos, who has defended high‑profile clients like Michael Jackson, Winona Ryder and most recently, the Menendez Brothers.

The plaintiff wants a jury trial on the lawsuit against the city and county while seeking compensatory damage, civil rights remedies and costs, according to the legal team.

Broader Context of Wildfire Litigation

The flurry of lawsuits against the local governments, especially the city of Los Angeles, began shortly after the Palisades Fire. For one, a mass tort lawsuit was filed on behalf of Palisades Fire survivors, claiming the city neglected to replenish the Santa Ynez Reservoir, which, they said, would have been critical in fighting the Palisades Fire.

Key Takeaways

• Lawsuits grew Monday after homeowner complaint alleging negligence in handling Lachman Fire.
• Complaint names Mayor Karen Bass as defendant, citing her absence during crisis.
• Plaintiff seeks jury trial, compensatory damages, civil rights remedies and costs.

The new lawsuit adds to a series of legal challenges facing Los Angeles officials over the Palisades Fire, highlighting alleged failures in fire suppression, communication, and resource management.