Moss Landing Battery Fire Lawsuits
Seeking Accountability for Moss Landing Families After the Battery Fire
Carpenter & Zuckerman is investigating potential claims for Moss Landing and Monterey County residents, business owners, and property owners affected by the January 2025 fire at Vistra's battery storage facility. The lithium-ion fire burned for days at what was one of the world’s largest battery storage facilities, forcing evacuations, closing Highway 1, and spreading smoke and ash across the surrounding community.
We are looking into:
- Whether battery chemistry, product defects, or system design made the facility more vulnerable to thermal runaway
- Whether fire-suppression and emergency-control systems failed or were inadequate for a fire of this size
- A site that had already caught fire several times since 2021
- Heavy-metal contamination left behind on homes, businesses, and farmland
Carpenter & Zuckerman is a nationally recognized trial practice that has recovered more than $3 billion in verdicts and settlements. We’re backed by an award-winning team and decades of experience and have a proven record of taking on powerful corporations.
If you have questions about a potential case, call (888) 484-2033 or contact us online for a FREE consultation.
What Happened at the Moss Landing Battery Plant
On January 16, 2025, a fire broke out among the lithium-ion batteries at Vistra's energy storage facility at the Moss Landing Power Plant in Monterey County. Driven by a process known as thermal runaway, the fire burned for days and sent a large plume of smoke and ash over the area. Roughly 1,500 residents were ordered to evacuate, a stretch of Highway 1 was shut down for three days, and local businesses were forced to close.
It was not the first time the site had burned. The January blaze was the fourth fire at the facility since 2021, and smoke reappeared from the plant again weeks later. The pattern has left the community questioning how a facility of this size was allowed to keep operating.
Concerns About Contamination and Health
The fire damaged tens of thousands of lithium-ion batteries, raising concerns that smoke, ash, and residue may have carried battery-related metals such as cobalt, nickel, manganese, and lithium into nearby homes, businesses, farmland, and natural areas. Residents reported ash and residue on homes, vehicles, businesses, and land, along with symptoms that included respiratory problems, eye and skin irritation, headaches, nausea, and metallic taste.
Government agencies have reported that their testing did not show levels requiring broad public-health action, while independent researchers and residents have raised concerns about elevated heavy-metal residue in certain samples. The long-term effects of a battery-storage fire of this size remain a serious concern for many families and businesses. Affected residents should document symptoms, preserve cleanup records, and speak with a doctor if they are worried about exposure.
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Who May Be Responsible
More than one company may bear responsibility for the fire and its aftermath. Lawsuits have named Vistra, the operator of the facility, along with the manufacturers that supplied its lithium-ion batteries and other parties connected to the site.
The claims raise several distinct theories. Against the operator, they allege negligence in the design, stacking, and fire protection of the battery system. Against the manufacturers, they raise product liability, arguing the cells were defective or unreasonably dangerous. Many claims also include trespass and nuisance for the physical intrusion of contaminants onto private property. Pursuing a case like this means taking on large, well-funded corporations, and we have the experience and resources to do it.
What You Can Recover
Residents and businesses harmed by the fire may be able to recover for a range of losses, including:
- Medical evaluation and care for exposure-related symptoms, plus monitoring for effects that may develop later
- Decontamination and cleanup of ash, soot, and heavy-metal residue
- Evacuation, temporary housing, and relocation costs
- Lost income from business closures and missed work
- Diminished property value
- Losses to crops, livestock, and agricultural operations
Do I Have a Claim?
You do not need to be certain you were harmed to find out whether you have a claim. It is worth reaching out if:
- You were evacuated, or you live, work, or own property in Moss Landing or the surrounding area
- Ash, soot, or residue reached your home, business, vehicle, or land
- You experienced symptoms during or after the fire, or are worried about exposure
- You lost income because your business closed or you could not work
- You farm or raise animals on land that may have been affected
- You are concerned about contamination of your soil, water, or property
Even if officials told you the area was safe, you may still have grounds for a claim. Contact us for a free review.
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Carpenter & Zuckerman team was very helpful and informative. Especially Edward Cherkezian and Disha Bhagwat. This was my first time doing any of this and they helped me through step by step. Would recommend!
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