Maui victims seek consultant’s files on what Hawaiian Electric knew about wildfire risks

  • 📰 NBCNewsHealth
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 72 sec. here
  • 3 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 32%
  • Publisher: 51%

United States United States Headlines News

United States United States Latest News,United States United States Headlines

A Virginia man has been subpoenaed for his correspondence with top officials for Hawaiian Electric, the utility company blamed in several lawsuits for negligence in causing the deadly Lahaina fire.

A power pole stands over burned cars and homes on Aug. 17 in a neighborhood in Lahaina, Hawaii destroyed by wildfire.Lawyers for victims suing Hawaiian Electric over this month’s deadly wildfire in Maui have subpoenaed a former consultant for the public utility, seeking his correspondence with top utility officials about their knowledge of wildfire risks and necessary upgrades to its power grid, according to a recent court filing.seeks to depose Mark Thaller in Virginia on Sept.

Mikal Watts, one of the plaintiffs’ attorneys in the lawsuit, previously told NBC News that his legal team had planned to issue a subpoena duces tecum to a man who Watts described as “a whistleblower” cooperating in the case. Thaller, 64, of Gainesville, Virginia, did not immediately respond to a voice message left for him Tuesday evening.Thaller’s Linkedin profile describes him as an “Innovator and Entrepreneur Intensely Focused on Impact” with a long list of academic degrees, including a doctorate of philosophy in conflict analysis and resolution. It also includes a professional biography that states he “strongly supports and promotes transparency, ethical compliance, and collaboration.

for the catastrophic wildfires in the historic town of Lahaina on Aug. 8. It identifies videos and accounts from witnesses who allegedly saw downed power lines sparking the initial fires, and accuses the utility company of years of inaction to upgrade power equipment and manage trees and other vegetation that utility officials knew posed dangers.

“We were surprised and disappointed that the County of Maui rushed to court even before completing its own investigation,” Shelee Kimura, Hawaiian Electric president and CEO, said in the statement. John Fiske, a lawyer representing Maui County, said Monday that if Hawaiian Electric has “information of a second ignition source, HECO should offer that evidence now.”

 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.
We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 707. in US

United States United States Latest News, United States United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Hawaiian Electric calls Maui county's wildfire lawsuit 'irresponsible' By ReutersHawaiian Electric calls Maui county's wildfire lawsuit 'irresponsible'
Source: Investingcom - 🏆 450. / 53 Read more »

Hawaiian Electric Stock Surges After Pushing Back on Maui Wildfire AllegationsThe company said it believes a lawsuit from Maui County that it acted negligently before deadly wildfires on the island is “factually and legally...
Source: MarketWatch - 🏆 3. / 97 Read more »

Hawaiian Electric Stock Surges After Pushing Back on Maui Wildfire AllegationsThe company says it believes a lawsuit from Maui County that it acted negligently before deadly wildfires on the island is 'factually and legally...
Source: MarketWatch - 🏆 3. / 97 Read more »

Hawaiian Electric points finger at Maui County over devastating wildfires, stock jumps 40%Hawaiian Electric said power lines toppled by high winds likely caused the morning fire in Lahaina but electricity was off when a second fire occurred.
Source: NBCPhiladelphia - 🏆 569. / 51 Read more »

Hawaiian Electric says power lines were 'de-energized' hours before Maui wildfireMaui County alleged in a lawsuit filed Thursday that Hawaiian Electric was negligent because it failed to power down its equipment despite the weather conditions and warnings.
Source: NBCNewsHealth - 🏆 707. / 51 Read more »

Hawaiian Electric faces financial, legal woes from deadly Maui wildfires By ReutersHawaiian Electric faces financial, legal woes from deadly Maui wildfires
Source: Investingcom - 🏆 450. / 53 Read more »