The deadline for wildfire victims to file claims against PG&E as part of its bankruptcy proceeding is Oct. 21, but the terms of the case are still being contested by both victims and PG&E bondholders, according to a San Francisco Chronicle editorial. The two groups have asked Bankruptcy Judge Dennis Montali to break PG&E’s control over the proceedings and allow them to advance their own proposal that would include a $14.5 billion trust for victims. PG&E wants to resolve the case with $8.4 billion for victim claims instead. Asked for comment, PG&E said, in a statement: “PG&E believes the Chapter 11 process will support the orderly, fair and expeditious resolution of claims, including wildfire claims. Our goal is to ensure that all parties — including wildfire victims — receive proper notice of the bar date (the last day to file proof of claims) and the requirements for filing a proof of claim.” It’s certainly in PG&E’s best interest to have a rigid and fast-approaching restriction on claim filing: The fewer victims who file claims, the less the company has to pay out, according to the editorial. That’s why it’s alarming that only about 30,000 victims have filed claims so far, with the help of lawyers, while an additional 1,500 have filed on their own. That leaves an estimated 70,000 people who are eligible for compensation yet may not file before the deadline.
