Mass actions

Mass Tort and Mass Action Lawyers in Los Angeles

When one company or institution harms many people, you do not have to face it alone. We represent individuals and families in Boyle Heights, Altadena and throughout California.

Free, Confidential Case Review · (562) 692-7000

Some harms reach far beyond one person. A warehouse fire fills a neighborhood with smoke for days. A wildfire destroys thousands of homes. An institution ignores or conceals abuse for years. When that happens, many people may have legal claims against the same company or institution.

The Law Offices of Omar Gastelum and Associates helps people in Los Angeles County and throughout California pursue these claims. Each client keeps an individual case, a direct voice in how it proceeds and the final decision about whether to resolve it. Since 2003, our firm has stood up against larger, well-funded opponents so that our clients can focus on their families and their recovery.

Key Takeaways

• A mass action allows many people to bring claims against the same defendant while each person keeps an individual case.
• We are currently reviewing claims arising from the June 2026 Boyle Heights warehouse fire, the January 2025 Eaton Fire and sexual abuse involving individuals and institutions.
• Deadlines differ by matter. Southern California Edison’s Eaton Fire compensation program stops accepting new claims on November 30, 2026.
• Consultations are free and confidential, and there is no attorney’s fee unless we recover compensation for you.
• We serve clients in English and Spanish, in person, by phone or by Zoom.

What Is a Mass Action?

A mass action is a group of individual lawsuits brought against the same defendant over the same event or conduct. Each person files a separate claim, and each person’s damages are evaluated on their own. Because the cases move forward together, plaintiffs can share evidence, experts and court time, which can strengthen each claim against a large company or institution.

The terms “mass tort” and “mass action” are often used interchangeably. “Mass tort” describes the harm: an injury or loss caused to many people by the same event, product or conduct. “Mass action” describes how those claims are brought: as individual cases that proceed side by side. In California state court, related cases filed in different courts may be coordinated before a single judge under Code of Civil Procedure section 404 and the sections that follow, a process often called a Judicial Council Coordination Proceeding, or JCCP.

Mass Tort vs. Class Action: What Is the Difference?

In a mass tort, each client has an individual case and is compensated based on their own losses. In a class action, one or a few representatives sue on behalf of a larger group, and class members typically share in a single outcome.

Both types of cases can arise from the same event. During a consultation, we can explain which approach may fit your situation.

Claims We Are Currently Reviewing

Boyle Heights Warehouse Fire

On June 17, 2026, a fire broke out at the Lineage cold-storage warehouse on the 1400 block of South Los Palos Street in Boyle Heights. The fire burned for eight days. Residents of Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles and nearby communities lived with heavy smoke, a shelter-in-place order and weeks of odors and pests while roughly 85 million pounds of spoiled food was removed from the site.

The Los Angeles Fire Department has reported that it could not determine the cause of the fire, and a criminal investigation is underway. Residents have filed lawsuits against Lineage and other companies connected to the property.

If the fire or its aftermath affected your health, your home or your business, or if you paid out of pocket for air purifiers, cleaning, higher utility bills or time away from home, you may have a claim.

Learn more about Boyle Heights warehouse fire claims

Eaton Fire

The Eaton Fire started on the evening of January 7, 2025, in Eaton Canyon and spread into Altadena, Pasadena and surrounding communities. It burned 14,021 acres, destroyed more than 9,400 structures and took 19 lives. In August 2026, the Los Angeles County Fire Department concluded its investigation and attributed the fire to electrical arcing on an out-of-service Southern California Edison (SCE) transmission tower.

SCE’s Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program stops accepting new claims on November 30, 2026. Submitting a claim to the program is voluntary, but accepting an offer requires signing a settlement agreement and release, which generally ends your ability to sue SCE over those losses. Before you sign, we can review an SCE offer with you and explain how it compares with the options available through litigation.

Learn more about Eaton Fire claims

Sexual Abuse Claims Against Institutions

When schools, religious organizations, employers or youth programs ignore or conceal abuse, multiple survivors may have claims against the same institution. California law has created limited windows that revive certain adult sexual assault claims that would otherwise be too late to file:

• Under AB 2777, certain claims for sexual assault that occurred on or after January 1, 2009, may be filed through December 31, 2026.
• Under AB 250, certain otherwise time-barred adult claims involving a cover-up by a private entity, along with related claims against the perpetrator, may be filed through December 31, 2027. AB 250 does not revive claims against public entities.

Claims involving abuse that occurred in childhood are governed by separate rules, and in many cases the deadlines are longer.

Our firm achieved a $122.5 million settlement with the City of Santa Monica on behalf of individuals who were sexually abused as minors by a police department employee. Every conversation with our firm is confidential, and you decide what you share and when.

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Learn more about our sexual abuse legal services · California adult sexual abuse claims

Who Can Join a Mass Action?

You may be able to bring a claim if the same event or conduct caused you harm. That can include:

• Physical injuries or illness, including breathing problems after smoke exposure
• Damage to your home, belongings, vehicle or business
• Out-of-pocket costs, such as hotel stays, air purifiers, cleaning or medical visits
• Lost wages or lost business income
• The death of a loved one
• Emotional distress, trauma and loss of use and enjoyment of your home

You do not need to have filed an insurance claim or a police report before speaking with us.

What Compensation May Be Available?

Compensation depends on your individual losses and the facts of your case. Depending on the claim, it may include medical expenses and future care, lost income, repair or replacement of property, relocation costs, and compensation for pain, suffering and emotional distress. In limited circumstances, California law also allows punitive damages when a defendant acted with malice, oppression or fraud.

How Long Do I Have to File?

Deadlines depend on the type of claim and the event. Under California law, many personal injury and wrongful death claims must be filed within two years, and many property damage claims within three years. For the Eaton Fire, that means many injury and wrongful death claims must be filed by January 7, 2027.

Claims against a city, county or other public agency usually require a written government claim much sooner, often within six months. Sexual abuse claims follow their own rules and revival windows, described above. Because some of these dates are approaching, it is worth speaking with an attorney soon so you know which deadlines apply to you.

Our Approach to Mass Action Cases

Even when hundreds of people are affected, your case is still your case. We take the time to understand what you lost, gather the evidence that supports your claim and keep you informed at every stage.

We work with investigators, medical professionals, environmental specialists and economists when a case calls for them, so that the full impact of what happened to you is documented. For survivors of abuse, we move at your pace and protect your privacy throughout the process.

Why Choose Us?

• Experienced attorneys: Since 2003, our firm has handled complex, high-stakes matters, including claims against large institutions and public entities. Our work includes a $122.5 million settlement with the City of Santa Monica.
• Compassionate support: We listen first, explain your options clearly and never pressure you to make a decision.
• Dedicated advocacy: We stand up against larger, well-funded opponents on behalf of individuals and families.
• Comprehensive resources: We bring in the experts your case needs, from fire and air-quality specialists to economists.

How We Can Help

Thorough Case Investigation

We review what happened, where you were and how it affected you and your family.

Gathering Evidence

We collect medical records, photographs, receipts, air-quality data and public records to support your claim.

Documenting the Full Extent of Your Losses

We identify and calculate your losses, including costs that are easy to overlook, such as temporary housing, replacement items and time away from work.

Representation Through Resolution and Appeal

We stay with your case through settlement or trial, and through any appeal.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mass Actions

What is a mass tort?

A mass tort is a civil claim brought by many people who were harmed by the same product, event or conduct. Each person has an individual case, but the cases are often handled together so that evidence and experts can be shared.

Is a mass action the same as a class action?

No. In a mass action, you keep your own case, your compensation is based on your own losses, and you decide whether to accept a settlement. In a class action, a few representatives act on behalf of the whole group, and members usually share in a single outcome.

Does it cost anything to join a mass action?

Your consultation is free and confidential. We handle these cases on a contingency basis, which means there is no attorney’s fee unless we recover compensation for you. Before you decide whether to move forward, we will explain in writing how attorney’s fees and case costs are handled.

Should I accept SCE’s Eaton Fire compensation offer?

It depends on your losses and your circumstances. Submitting a claim does not waive your rights, but accepting an offer requires signing a release that generally ends your ability to sue SCE over those losses. New claims must be submitted by November 30, 2026. Under the program’s rules, an offer that is not accepted within 90 days becomes void, and you keep the right to pursue litigation. We can review an offer with you before you sign.

I was not evacuated during the Boyle Heights fire. Can I still have a claim?

Possibly. Residents of Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles and nearby communities reported smoke, odors and pests well after the fire was out. If you experienced health effects, property damage or out-of-pocket costs, a consultation can help you understand your options.

I already filed an insurance claim. Can I still bring a lawsuit?

In many cases, yes. Insurance often does not cover every loss, and an insurance payment generally does not prevent you from pursuing a claim against the party responsible. Your insurer may also have reimbursement rights, which we can explain.

Will my case go to trial?

Many mass actions resolve through settlement, but we prepare each case as though it may go to trial. Thorough preparation puts clients in a stronger position during negotiations.

Will my information be kept private?

Yes. What you share with our firm is confidential. In sexual abuse cases, survivors may be able to ask the court for permission to proceed under a pseudonym, such as “Jane Doe” or “John Doe,” to protect their privacy.

Do you speak Spanish?

Yes. Hablamos español. We can meet with you in person at our office, by phone or by Zoom.

Set Up a Consultation Today

If you or a loved one was affected by one of these events, we are here to listen and to help you understand your options. Contact us to schedule a free, confidential consultation. There is no attorney’s fee unless we recover compensation for you. Se habla español.

Call (562) 692-7000 · Email info@gastelumlaw.com · Zoom consultations available

13305 Penn Street, Suite 150, Whittier, CA 90602

Contact The Law Offices of Omar Gastelum and Associates

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This page provides general information and is not legal advice.