Justice for Wildfire Survivors: NLSLA Sues LA County and Pasadena Over Lack of Tenant Protections
At the end of May, NLSLA in partnership with Morrison Foerster LLP, filed lawsuits against the County of Los Angeles and the City of Pasadena, seeking accountability for their failure to protect tenants impacted by the Eaton Fire.
The lawsuits—filed on behalf of Altadena Tenants Union, Pasadena Tenants Union, and individual wildfire survivors—demand action from the local governments to fulfill their legal duty to ensure safe, habitable housing in the aftermath of disaster.
When the Eaton Fire broke out on January 7, residents across Altadena and Pasadena evacuated their homes. But when they returned, they found living spaces contaminated with toxic smoke, ash, and soot — all known to carry dangerous levels of lead and other heavy metals. Despite publicly acknowledging these dangers, LA County and Pasadena failed to conduct meaningful inspections or enforce habitability laws. Many tenants received no help in response to complaints; others were met with inadequate inspections that ignored public health guidelines.
“These tenants came to us in desperation, and we kept hearing similar stories over and over again,” said Lena Silver, NLSLA’s Director of Policy and Administrative Advocacy. “They were forced to pay out of pocket for inspections and remediation just to protect their health—something their governments should have ensured.”
Following the filing, NLSLA helped petitioners secure a groundbreaking Settlement Agreement with Los Angeles County and the Department of Public Health (LA DPH). Terms of the agreement include:
- Presumption of Damage: LA DPH adopted an “Altadena Presumption” that the Eaton Fire impacted all rental housing in unincorporated Altadena. Complaints from tenants whose homes have not been professionally inspected and remediated will automatically trigger professional inspections and mandatory remediation orders pursuant to the inspection results.
- Public Notice: LA DPH has posted the presumption and tenant rights on its website, and it will be posted on other wildfire recovery pages, ensuring residents are informed of their protections.
- Training & Enforcement: LA DPH inspectors will receive new training and guidance to enforce remediation requirements.
- Community Outreach: Within weeks, LA DPH launched an extensive outreach campaign—including direct mail to households in affected zip codes, library postings, social media announcements, and collaboration with local community groups including the Eaton Fire Collaborative—to ensure tenants are aware of their rights.
Litigation continues with the City of Pasadena.
No one should have to choose between their health and their home. NLSLA continues to fight on behalf of tenants to ensure an equitable recovery for all following the devastating fires.
