Brandon Rittiman
BakersRelayFrom Los Angeles Times: “PG&E reaches $50-million settlement with Shasta County in 2020 Zogg fire”
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Good evening after a long day in Shasta County-- where a judge followed through today on his plan to dismiss felony charges against PG&E for starting the 2020 #ZoggFire.
If the case had been allowed to go before a jury, prosecutors say PG&E would have been found guilty of 4 manslaughter felonies: "That's sad that that was taken away from us and taken away from the family members."
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Zogg Fire survivors react after a judge dismisses PG&E's manslaughter charges | Full Show
"This resolution... it does not make me happy," Bridgett says.
She wanted to take PG&E to trial, but it wasn't possible in her judgement.
Bridgett says PG&E would have been found guilty if the case was allowed to go before a jury. She says Judge Flynn's plan to toss the case out is the reason that won't happen.
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DA Bridgett says she talked to the families, to direct some of this money toward causes that honor the memories of the 4 people killed.
Some $ will go to scholarships, an animal evac center, the Igo-Ono school... which will make a new play structure in memory of 8-year-old Feyla.
There's also "Feyla's fund" to assist families recovering from disasters.
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The deal has PG&E paying $50M, also enforcement/oversight provisions, Bridgett says.
Added weather stations, undergrounding, removal of abandoned lines are all part of the agreement, DA Bridgett says.
Also changes to tree inspection practices, requiring more process/sign-offs to de-list trees (not cut) that are marked as known hazards.
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DA Bridgett is up. "PG&E's failure to remove a hazard tree that they had marked for removal... fell and caused the devastating #ZoggFire."
She names the 4 people killed.
"PG&E needs to change its practices to save lives... it was my desire to criminally convict PG&E to accomplish this goal."
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We are awaiting a news conference with Shasta County DA Stephanie Bridgett regarding the settlement deal and dropping of #ZoggFire criminal charges against PG&E.
Family members of people killed in the fire are here.
Will provide video later today, meantime I'll post updates here.
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"It's just almost like rubber stamping now," #ZoggFire survivor Kyle Drake tells me at a protest outside of court.
"Eventually the last straw will come around. I don't know what town's gonna get destroyed that's finally the last straw. Maybe somewhere on the coast. Los Gatos. Maybe then someone would pay attention."
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BREAKING: Judge Daniel Flynn dismisses the manslaughter case against PG&E for the 2020 #ZoggFire, pending a civil settlement between the DA and PG&E.
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