Famed Former Pasadena Athlete Walt ‘The Jet’ Butler Joins Legal Action Against Southern California Edison

Attorneys representing wildfire victims announced a lawsuit Tuesday against Southern California Edison (SCE), alleging the utility company’s equipment sparked the devastating Eaton Fire that swept through Altadena and parts of Pasadena in January.

Among those joining the lawsuit is longtime Altadena resident and former Pasadena sports standout Walt “The Jet” Butler, who lost his home and cherished memorabilia in the blaze.

Butler, along with Luis Gonzalez and Denise Diaz Gonzalez, joined a group of former Altadena residents in suing SCE by claiming the utility’s equipment sparked the fire that destroyed their homes, numerous other structures, and resulted in at least 17 deaths.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, local attorney Doug Boxer, who represents LA Fire Justice, said the firm had filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court, seeking justice for the victims of what he described as a preventable disaster.

“Southern California Edison started the Eaton Fire, and we’re here to hold them accountable,” Boxer said. “This is probably the 10th community I’ve been in that looks just like this. It’s incomprehensible, and it’s maddening because it could have been avoided.”

The lawsuit alleges that SCE failed to properly maintain and upgrade its infrastructure, despite repeated warnings from fire and weather officials about high-risk conditions. Boxer referenced a January 5 National Weather Service warning that described an impending windstorm as “potentially dangerous,” similar in strength to a destructive 2011 storm that had impacted Pasadena and the San Gabriel foothills.

“Despite these warnings, Edison’s equipment failed on the evening of January 7, sparking the Eaton Fire and devastating this community,” Boxer said. “Meanwhile, the company distributed billions of dollars in dividends to shareholders instead of investing in public safety.”

The lawsuit includes six causes of action against SCE, seeking damages for property destruction, emotional distress, and other losses suffered by victims.

Butler, is an 83-year-old former Pasadena High School athlete and community mentor. He has been a fixture in the neighborhood since 1971.

“I spent more money on this house than what I paid for it,” Butler said, recounting the loss of his home. “Everything in my room—the awards, the letters, my first contract with the Denver Broncos—it’s all gone.”

Beyond his personal loss, Butler lamented the impact the fire has had on the close-knit Altadena community. Known for his generosity, Butler has long supported local youth through mentorship programs and charitable initiatives, including purchasing athletic gear for students at Pasadena High School and Muir High School.

Despite losing nearly everything, Butler remains committed to giving back.

“I’ve already ordered shoes for the PHS track team,” he said. “And I’m helping out a little track club in Pasadena. I want to give them T-shirts that say, ‘The more you learn, the more you earn.’”

Pastor BJ King, of Loveland Life Center, a longtime friend of Butler’s, also emphasized the importance of ensuring that fire victims are represented by trustworthy legal counsel and not taken advantage of by opportunistic firms.

“For some reason, there are always predatory people looking to exploit those who have already lost everything,” King said. “We’ve vetted LA Fire Justice to make sure they’re doing right by our community.”

LA Fire Justice Community Outreach Director Jordy Gonzalez reassured residents that his team would be available to provide guidance throughout the legal process. “We have an office in Pasadena, and we’re here to help,” Gonzalez said. “We’ll be here today, tomorrow, and for as long as it takes.”

Boxer said the firm has used advanced investigative technology, including photogrammetry, to determine the fire’s origin. This technique, which reconstructs images from multiple video sources, allowed investigators to pinpoint the location where SCE’s equipment malfunctioned.

“There’s no question there was a fault on the line,” Boxer said. “We’ve seen an Arco gas station surveillance video, we’ve analyzed the burn patterns, and we’ve used photogrammetry to confirm that Edison’s equipment was the ignition source.”

Under California law, utilities can be held strictly liable for wildfires caused by their equipment, regardless of negligence. The lawsuit also claims SCE was negligent in failing to properly maintain its infrastructure and respond to extreme fire conditions.

Beyond legal claims against SCE, Boxer urged fire victims to carefully navigate their insurance claims, warning that companies often attempt to minimize payouts.

“People have been paying premiums for decades, and they deserve every dollar they’re covered for,” Boxer said. “Don’t let your insurance company shortchange you.”

Boxer noted that many homeowners in Altadena and Pasadena have been underinsured due to outdated policies and rising reconstruction costs. In many cases, victims will have to rely on legal claims against SCE to recover their full losses.

LA Fire Justice will hold town hall meetings on February 7 and 8 at the Masonic Temple in Pasadena to provide additional resources and updates on the legal proceedings.

As for Butler, he remains hopeful that justice will be served but acknowledges that no lawsuit can replace the personal history he lost in the fire.

“I don’t think it’s fair,” he said, his voice breaking. “I’ve done nothing wrong. All I can say is, I need help. We all do.”

The law firm is online at lafirejustice.com. Its phone number is (626) 684-3315 for more information. The firm’s Pasadena office is located at 221 East Walnut Street.