The December deadline for the PG&E wildfire settlement was December 31, 2019, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. That date was the Bar Date, the court-set cutoff for fire claimants to file proofs of claim in PG&E's Chapter 11 cases.
PG&E Corporation announced the extension in its deadline extension notice. Lieff Cabraser advised victims to file at www.officialfireclaims.com before the cutoff or risk forfeiting compensation. The firm said the extension gave extra time to people who missed the earlier October deadline.
Official resources:
- Read the official notice from Pgecorp — Use this primary source to verify the official announcement.
- Read the official guidance from Lieffcabraser — Use this primary source to verify the official guidance.
Table of Contents
- What had to be filed?
- Who qualified under the cutoff?
- What did the December $13.5 billion agreement change?
- Can you still use the December deadline?
What had to be filed?
The filing was a proof of claim in the bankruptcy cases. It told the court who the claimant was and what fire loss was claimed. PG&E Corporation said the cutoff applied in the Chapter 11 cases it filed on Jan.
29, 2019. Only claims arising before that filing date counted for this Bar Date. A late or missing proof risked exclusion from settlement compensation.
Who qualified under the cutoff?
The cutoff covered holders of Northern California fire claims from before the bankruptcy filing. PG&E Corporation limited the group to claims arising before its Jan. 29, 2019 filing.
Lieff Cabraser reported the December deal covered four fire groups. Readers should check the fire name on their original claim papers: If your loss came from one of these fires and arose before Jan. 29, 2019, you fell in the Bar Date group. If your loss came later, this December cutoff did not apply to you.
- 2015 Butte Fire
- 2016 Ghost Ship Fire
- 2017 North Bay Wildfires, including Tubbs
- 2018 Camp Fire
What did the December $13.5 billion agreement change?
In December, PG&E reached a $13.5 billion agreement with the Tort Claimants Committee. Lieff Cabraser described the deal in its agreement announcement to fund a trust for fire victims.
The amount was $5.1 billion higher than PG&E's prior $8.4 billion proposal. The increase added money for victim compensation through the trust.
Can you still use the December deadline?
No. That December 2019 Bar Date is long closed. The Fire Victim Trust describes the later Questionnaire cutoff in its About the Trust timeline. The Fire Victim Trust states in its Trust Updates page that it stopped accepting new Questionnaires on Sept. 15, 2023.
It objects to filings after Sept. 30, 2022 to avoid diluting timely victims. It set Dec. 16, 2024 for Minors Compromise submissions before its final Oct. 14, 2026 distribution.