The judge for PG&E’s restructuring bankruptcy set a December 31st, 2019 deadline to file any claims against PG&E related to harm from the Camp Fire or the 2017 Northern California wildfires. This deadline has since passed.
To see a copy of the PG&E fire claim form, click here, or get more information on how to file the claim form.
There are pages on PG&E’s website that are labeled “Pacific Gas & Electric Company Claim Form” or “How to file a PG&E claim.” These are not the claim forms that need to be filed with the bankruptcy court.
This is not the PG&E bankruptcy claim form
Aside from this website, a copy of the wildfire claim forms are also hosted on the site of PG&E claims administrator, Prime Clerk.
Some people have found Prime Clerk’s website to be confusing. Please do not fill out the wrong form. There is a wildfire claim form and a standard claim form. If your claim relates to a wildfire, you should file the former, which we linked above. To see what the non-fire claim form looks like, click here. The non-fire PG&E claim form is labeled “Official Form 410.”
PG&E Settlement Claim Form
The PG&E bankruptcy claim form is not the same thing as a settlement claim form. Where there is a global or class action settlement, sometimes individuals need to fill out a claim form in order to receive monetary or other benefits under the settlement.
In contrast to a settlement claim form, which is often the end of the legal process, a bankruptcy claim form may only be the start of the legal process. When PG&E or another entity files for bankruptcy, anyone with legal claims against the company must file a proof of claim before the deadline set by the bankruptcy court. Here, the judge has set a December 31st deadline for all claims to be filed against PG&E. Once a company is in bankruptcy court, all claims not filed by the deadline are wiped out.
What is a 410 “proof of claim” for PG&E?
Form 410 is the standard (non-fire) claim form that needs to be filed with the court before December 31, 2019 or you forfeit your (non-fire) claims. But 410 is the wrong form for wildfire claims. In the instructions for Form 410, it says:
you should not use this form to submit a claim that arises out of or relates to the fires that occurred in Northern California.
The correct form to fill out for a wildfire claim is labeled “Proof of Claim (Fire Claim Related)”. The instructions on the “Fire Claim Related” form say that you should fill it out for a claim that:
“arose from, or relates to, a fire. Do not use this form for non-fire claims. Non-fire … claimants should use Form 410.”
Form 401 vs Fire-Related Form
Many people affected by the fires have the right to file claims, and may not know it. Failure to file your claim could leave more money for PG&E and its investors. Here are some common misconceptions about who is eligible for recovery:
It is NOT true that you can only file a claim if you owned a home that was destroyed by the fire.
You can file a claim for a number of different reasons, including loss of a rental home, loss of personal property, and adverse health effects caused by the fire.
It is NOT true that you can only file a claim if you had an insurance policy.
This is a court claim against PG&E, and is not dependent on your insurance policy. You can file a claim even if your insurance has already covered some of your losses.
It is NOT true that you must have documents to prove every item you lost in the fire.
You may be eligible to file regardless of if you have relevant documentation. In fact, the simple act of having to flee the fire may enable your claim.
It is NOT true that you can only file a claim if you lost a loved one or experienced personal injury.
Other reasons for filing a claim may include damage to your home or loss of personal property as a result of the fire.
Northern California Fire Lawyers is a team of more than 30 attorneys from a coalition of three Northern California law firms:
✓No Other Firm Has More Experience Suing PG&E.
Our first case against PG&E was nearly 30 years ago. We know PG&E’s playbook and we use that unique knowledge to benefit our clients.
✓We have succeeded in trial against PG&E.
Our lead trial lawyer, Mike Danko, is the only lawyer in Northern California to have taken a case of this type all the way through to trial and verdict against PG&E. Since then, PG&E has offered settlements to our clients in many cases during or just before the start of trial. PG&E knows we are ready, willing and able to take a case to trial, and that approach helps us achieve the best results for our clients.
✓Appointed by judges to lead legal battles against PG&E.
We have been appointed by judges to leadership positions in large-scale cases against PG&E, including the 2017 North Bay Fires cases, the 2015 Butte Fire cases, and the 2010 San Bruno Explosion cases. Judges trust us to represent the best interests of fire & disaster victims.
Northern California Fire Lawyers is a coalition of prominent Northern California law firms: Corey, Luzaich, de Ghetaldi & Riddle, Danko Meredith, and Gibbs Law Group. Our firms consist of seasoned trial lawyers, leading national personal injury attorneys, and experienced complex litigators. Attorneys on our team have been appointed by California judges to serve in leadership positions in a number of large, coordinated fire and disaster cases. We bring a deep knowledge of the systems and fire-prevention policies of major utility companies and are well-positioned to leverage the hard work from our previous cases to benefit our clients.
Mike Danko
Danko Meredith
Kristine Meredith
Danko Meredith
Amanda Riddle
Corey, Luzaich, de Ghetaldi & Riddle
Dario de Ghetaldi
Corey, Luzaich, de Ghetaldi & Riddle
Brad Bowen
Danko Meredith
Steve Lopez
Gibbs Law Group LLP
Matthew Luzaich
Law Offices of Matthew S. Luzaich
Eric Gibbs
Gibbs Law Group LLP
