Many in Pacific Palisades blame L.A. City Hall for fire failures. But can they win in court?

"When federal prosecutors arrested a man Wednesday for setting a small fire that reignited days later into the deadly Palisades blaze, they suggested the arrest largely settled the matter of blame. "A single person's recklessness caused one of the worst fires Los Angeles has ever seen," Bill Essayli, acting United States Attorney for central California, said as he announced the arrest of Jonathan Rinderknecht, a 29-year-old Uber driver. But the new details they offered about the cause of the fire only added toresidents' anger and dismay about how city officials handled the fire that killed 12 people and destroyed more than 6,700 structures across Pacific Palisades and Malibu. It also renewed calls for City Hall to be held accountable."

"Until this week, the focus of Palisades residents has been on a reservoir that was supposed to be a key source of water for the neighborhood being dry and other issues related to the fire response. But federal investigators concluded Wednesday that L.A. firefighters thought they had put out the small fire Rinderknecht allegedly set on Jan. 1 only for it to smolder and burn underground and then rekindle in heavy winds on Jan. 7."

"This latest revelation is fueling debate over whether the city of L.A. or the state of California can be found civilly liable for its role in the fire. Already, a flurry of complaints have been filed over the last 10 months accusing various L.A and California officials of failing to prepare for and respond to the fire. Most legal experts agree that cases against government entities are tough because California law gives public officials broad immunity from failing to provide fire protection. Some argue a criminal case against Rinderknecht could ultimately hurt residents' civil complaints."

Federal prosecutors arrested Jonathan Rinderknecht, accused of setting a small Jan. 1 fire that allegedly smoldered and rekindled into the deadly Palisades blaze on Jan. 7. Officials said the blaze killed 12 people and destroyed more than 6,700 structures across Pacific Palisades and Malibu. Investigators reported L.A. firefighters believed the initial fire was extinguished but it burned underground and reignited during heavy winds. Residents expressed anger and dismay over city response, including a dry reservoir and other preparedness issues. Legal experts say public-entity immunity makes civil suits difficult, and some warn the criminal case could weaken civil claims.

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