During a hearing intended to publicly shame PG&E for neglecting its electric transmission infrastructure, Butte County Superior Court Judge Michael Deems today read the name of each victim aloud in the courtroom while the images of the dead were shown on a large screen as PG&E outgoing CEO Bill Johnson entered a plea for each of the 84 counts.
PG&E pleaded guilty in Butte County Superior Court Tuesday to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter in the 2018 Camp Fire caused by a faulty piece of equipment on a century-old high-voltage transmission tower.
Johnson apologized directly to the victims’ families. He added that “PG&E will never forget the Camp Fire and all that it took away from the region.”
The company also pleaded guilty to a felony count of illegally causing a fire that resulted in great bodily injury. Sentencing – a $4 million fine maximum fine – is expected later this week.
