Farmers Accused of Denying Eaton Fire Smoke Damage Claims
Michelle M. Meyers, Partner at Singleton Schreiber, was featured by Daily Journal in an article titled “Farmers Insurance Accused of Denying Smoke Damage Claims After Eaton Fire,” published on March 4, 2026.
Meyers filed a class action lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court on behalf of property owners alleging that Farmers Insurance and its environmental testing vendor improperly handled smoke and ash damage claims arising from the 2025 Eaton Fire in Altadena and Pasadena. The complaint alleges the insurer relied on inadequate inspections conducted by Hygiene Technologies when evaluating fire-related contamination claims.
The lawsuit raises legal concerns regarding insurers’ handling of wildfire-related property damage claims and the role of environmental testing vendors in assessing contamination following major fire events. The complaint includes claims for negligence, unfair competition, and financial elder abuse, and alleges that the environmental vendor conducted substandard testing that affected hundreds of California properties.
“The hygienist should be an unbiased entity who provides the insured with the necessary information to make an informed decision. When you don't provide a full assessment of a property, you don't give them the opportunity to make that determination as to whether or not you want to live in the home.”
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