Tubbs Fire victims say they're still waiting for full PG&E payout nearly 8 years later
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Fire victims are set to meet PG&E in federal court Tuesday in San Francisco.
Thousands have filed lawsuits against the company and are waiting for the payout of settlement money from numerous fires over the past decade.
"There are many, many fire victims around California that are counting on these funds to be able to rebuild their lives, to pay medical bills, to rebuild their homes," said Will Abrams.
Abrams is one of those plaintiffs. Abrams lost his home in the Tubbs Fire.
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He believes both PG&E and the Fire Victims Trust that was set up to help pay those impacted have not been transparent.
"They're looking for a way to be able to minimize the pain and suffering of victims. And they are trying to short-circuit the legal processes that are afforded to us," Abrams said.
It's a belief that's also held by Erica Gelsey, who was in both the Tubbs and Kincade fires and also has her own litigation.
Gelsey says the fires have left her with lifelong health problems and trauma.
"I don't have any teeth to eat regular food, so I am malnourished. I have a rash that drives me absolutely up the wall that I can't control. And I can't live in the state that I loved," Gelsey said.
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In a statement, PG&E told ABC7 News in part:
"The Fire Victim Trustee and Claims Administrator, who were appointed by the Bankruptcy Court, determine, administer and pay all Fire Victim Claims in accordance with the Fire Victim Trust procedures...PG&E did not have a role in selecting the trustee or administrator and does not have a role in reviewing claims or making payments to fire victims from the Fire Victim Trust."
That trust says it has paid out $13.7 billion to fire survivors, with final payments expected once the legal cases wrap up.
"We were customers. We're their rate payers. Their interest should have been to put us back into our homes as soon as they could," Gelsey said.
The court hearing is scheduled to start at 10 a.m.
