Jahi Jenkins

As the harm caused by wildfires has grown, so has the legal exposure for electric utilities. For decades, California suffered disastrous wildfires and consequently was at the forefront of wildfire litigation. In the last decade, California has responded by enacting the nation’s first laws requiring electric utilities to implement wildfire management plans and public safety power shutoff protocols, which encourage utilities to voluntarily de-energize their lines during high-risk conditions.

On June 5, 2025, the United States Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, vacating and remanding a Sixth Circuit ruling against a heterosexual woman in a Title VII “reverse discrimination” case. The Court rejected the use of a heightened evidentiary standard for “majority-group” plaintiffs – such as white, male, or heterosexual employees.