Families of California wildfire victims slam PG&E for crimes

Families of California wildfire victims slam PG&E for crimes

SeattlePI.com

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The families of some of the 85 people killed by a horrific Northern California wildfire ignited by Pacific Gas & Electric's long-neglected equipment vilified the company Wednesday as greedy, corrupt and reckless, telling heartbreaking stories of their loss in court.

The speakers tearfully told of holiday and birthday celebrations that will never be celebrated after their loved ones perished in the November 2018 fire that nearly wiped out Paradise, California. PG&E pleaded guilty Tuesday to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of unlawfully starting the fire in the bucolic town about 170 miles (275 kilometers) northeast of San Francisco.

The families lamented never being able to see a music-loving father joyfully dance to his favorite Rolling Stones song or savor the simple pleasure of being able to sit down to watch “The Golden Girls" on television.

“You had the capacity to know what you were doing would kill people,” said Philip Binstock, referring to PG&E executives. His 88-year-old father, Julian Binstock, was found with his dog in the shower of his Paradise, California home.

Binstock noted that PG&E was previously found to have falsified safety and maintenance records for its natural gas lines to make more money before the 2018 wildfire. “Not only are you mass murderers, you are also liars and forgers,” Binstock said.

Wednesday was the second day of an extraordinary court proceeding that will culminate in PG&E being sentenced for 85 felony counts. A report based on the grand jury indictment described repeated warnings the company had about its nearly century-old failing electrical equipment, but its executives continually chose to save money to boost profits instead.

As a corporation, PG&E can’t go to jail for its crimes. Instead, it will pay a maximum fine of...

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