Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Farmers Insurance and HygieneTech for Bad Faith Practices in Smoke Damage Claims
Sacramento, CA – A class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of plaintiffs Anita Ghazarian and Simon Penny against Fire Insurance Exchange, a subsidiary of Farmers Insurance, and Hygiene Technologies International, Inc. (HygieneTech). The suit alleges that Farmers Insurance, in partnership with HygieneTech, mishandled the smoke and ash damage assessment on the plaintiffs' property following the devastating Eaton Fire of 2025.
Ghazarian and Penny, homeowners in Altadena, California, had their rental property severely impacted by the Eaton Fire. Despite paying premiums for comprehensive coverage under Farmers Insurance, the plaintiffs were subjected to unreasonable delays, misleading claims handling, and inadequate remediation efforts, forcing them to fight for the full coverage they are entitled to under their insurance policy.
The suit outlines how the defendants failed to conduct a proper investigation and how that failure has led to the wrongful denial of full claim coverage. On behalf of the proposed class, the plaintiffs allege that HygieneTech has performed negligent and inadequate inspections that are not up to environmental hygiene industry standards and has produced false reports that downplay the extent of contamination. The defendants’ actions have caused the plaintiffs significant financial and emotional distress, including the loss of rental income and mounting medical costs.
"Farmers Insurance and HygieneTech's failure to uphold their obligations under the policy is not just a matter of negligence, it's a case of deliberate bad faith practices that have caused real harm to our clients," said Michelle Meyers, Partner at Singleton Schreiber and the plaintiffs’ attorney. "Our clients, and many others in California, are being denied the insurance coverage they paid for to restore their homes to a habitable condition.”
This lawsuit also seeks to expose the illegitimate business practices of industrial hygienist companies. “These companies claim to provide science-based, reliable smoke damage assessments, but in reality they produce flawed reports that give insurance companies a pretext to deny valid claims,” said Meyers. “This misconduct is widespread and must be stopped. We will continue to fight for justice for these homeowners, ensuring they receive the compensation they deserve."
The lawsuit seeks to hold Farmers Insurance and HygieneTech accountable for their unlawful actions, including the denial of necessary smoke and ash remediation, which has left many homes unsafe for habitation. The class action claim against HygieneTech represents all homeowners in California who have experienced similar issues with the HygieneTech.
About Singleton Schreiber
Singleton Schreiber is a client-centered law firm, focusing on mass torts/multi-district litigation, fire litigation, personal injury/wrongful death, civil rights, environmental law, insurance bad faith, tribal law, and sex abuse/trafficking. Home to the nation’s largest fire litigation practice, the firm has represented over 30,000 wildfire and explosion victims caused by utilities, government negligence, railroads, and corporate misconduct. Its nationally recognized team has played a leading role in high-profile cases including the 2025 Eaton Fire, 2025 Moss Landing Battery Fire, 2025 Esparto Fireworks Explosion, 2023 Maui Fires, and is also actively litigating wildfire cases throughout New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Oregon, and Washington. They are also pursuing groundbreaking litigation against Tesla for misrepresenting their autopilot system, which recently resulted in a historic verdict. Additionally, the firm advocates for survivors of abuse involving hotel chains in California and Washington. With deep experience in complex claims, the firm is committed to helping individuals, families, and communities recover and rebuild.
