Malibu is filing suit against the state of California, the city of Los Angeles, L.A. County and additional public entities. Malibu officials said the decision was necessary to try to recoup losses that affect “the long-term fiscal implications for Malibu and its taxpayers,” according to a news release. The city’s “entire character changed” on Jan. 7, 2025, when the defendants’ “unlawful conduct caused the Palisades Fire to ignite,” according to the complaint. The ensuing blaze killed 12 people, half of whom were Malibu residents, according to the city. Malibu claims that the fire was “not an accident” but a “foreseeable and proximate result of unlawful conduct” by the defendants.

Source: Los Angeles Times February 19, 2026 18:34 UTC