Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag sue the city of L.A. and DWP after losing home in Palisades fire

Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag
Photo credit: depositphotos.com

Reality TV stars Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt have launched legal action against Los Angeles city officials after their Pacific Palisades residence was destroyed in the recent Southern California wildfires.

The former stars of The Hillsโ€”a spinoff of Laguna Beachโ€”filed their lawsuit Tuesday (Jan. 21, 2025) alongside over twenty other property owners and residents affected by the Palisades Fire. Their legal complaint blames Los Angeles and its water department for inadequate water supplies that hindered firefighting efforts and caused extensive property damage.

Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag Launch of the Scarlet HD TV Series
04/28/2008 โ€“ West Hollywood โ€“ Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt arrive to the Launch of the Scarlet HD TV Series held at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, California, United States. Photo credit: depositphotos.com

The devastating Eaton and Palisades fires, sparked by powerful winds during one of the areaโ€™s most severe droughts, have claimed 28 lives and decimated more than 16,000 structures, according to Cal Fire, marking them as some of Californiaโ€™s most catastrophic blazes.

The city faces mounting criticism over non-functioning hydrants and insufficient water pressure, triggering numerous lawsuits against municipal authorities and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has demanded an independent probe into the LA water utilityโ€™s operations.

The legal filing reveals that the Santa Ynez Reservoir, which supplies the Pacific Palisades area, had been inactive since February 2024 pending maintenance. According to the complaint, citing Janisse Quiรฑones, the water utilityโ€™s chief executive and chief engineer, the neighborhoodโ€™s hydrants were linked to three tanksโ€”each holding 1 million gallonsโ€”that emptied within 12 hours.

Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt at the 4th Annual Pink Party held at the Hangar 8 in Santa Monica on September 13, 2008. Photo credit: depositphotos.com

The complaint states that without the reservoirโ€™s water supply, firefighters had to depend on water tanks that werenโ€™t built to combat such an extensive blaze.

City officials and water utility representatives havenโ€™t yet responded to requests for comment via email.

Though maintenance requests for the reservoir were submitted in January 2024, the water utility informed the Los Angeles Times that repairs wouldnโ€™t be finished until April or May 2025.

The lawsuit characterizes the Palisades Fire as an โ€œinescapable and unavoidable consequenceโ€ of the water infrastructure managed by city authorities and the utility.

Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag
Photo credit: depositphotos.com

โ€œThe system necessarily failed, and this failure was a substantial factor in causing Plaintiffs to suffer the losses alleged in this complaint,โ€ it said.

The plaintiffs are invoking โ€œinverse condemnation,โ€ the same legal principle that holds utilities financially responsible for wildfire damage caused by their equipment.


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