Santo Riccobono, part of the Wildfire Recovery Attorneys team representing Eaton Fire victims, has outlined a trauma-sensitive approach that seeks to balance the demands of litigation with protecting survivors’ mental health. His remarks reflect a firm strategy shaped by years of experience representing wildfire victims across California.
“Even though we’ve helped thousands of fire victims over the years it never gets easier hearing their stories,” Riccobono said. “It’s heartbreaking. They have lost everything and sometimes just narrowly escaped with their lives.”
According to Riccobono, the firm structures its initial consultations to focus on the essential scope of damages without pressing clients for liability details.
“Initially, we try to get the overall scope of the damages, how they were affected,” he explained. “We will gradually over the course of the case, depending on court deadlines, get more information, and help them obtain all of the detailed damages information.”
Riccobono also addressed concerns about retraumatization during the legal process. He emphasized that wildfire victims rarely face depositions. “No wildfire case has ever gone to trial in California,” he said. Instead, clients’ experiences are documented through “firsthand accounts, doctors’ reports, expert reports.”
Protective measures, he noted, are standard. “Absolutely, there is a protective order in all of these cases,” Riccobono said. “Mediation demands are protected by mediation privileges, which protects communications and conduct during a mediation/settlement discussions from being disclosed or used as evidence.”
Riccobono argued strongly against the use of class actions in wildfire litigation.
“All wildfire cases should be treated as individual cases,” he said. “Although some attorneys have filed class action cases for the Eaton Fire, it is inappropriate. Damages range from people who evacuated to those who died, and everything in between.” Class actions, he explained, prevent victims from claiming emotional damages, “which is a huge aspect to our claims.”
Asked about Southern California Edison’s Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program, Riccobono expressed skepticism.
“Although it is marketed as a program that will provide quicker payouts, our experience in past fires has been that programs like this is are just a way for Edison to settle cheaply while Plaintiffs give up their rights to sue,” he cautioned.
Riccobono said his team has adapted its services for the diverse Altadena and Pasadena community.
“We love how diverse, yet close knit the Altadena/Pasadena community is. That’s what makes it so special!” he said. “We recognize its culturally diverse and have adapted. We have bilingual speakers and have translated our representation agreements and status updates for current clients into numerous languages.”
The firm has also organized resource fairs since shortly after the fire, Riccobono said, bringing together “health care professionals, realtors, banks, builders, FEMA, anyone that we think fire victims might find helpful.”
Clients, he added, are given direct access to attorneys through their cell phone numbers.
Throughout the process, Riccobono emphasized, the goal is clear: individualized handling of each case while minimizing retraumatization for survivors of the Eaton Fire.
Santo Riccobono can be reached at (805) 535-5994.
