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DIEMER & WEI, LLP

Kathryn S. Diemer (#133977)

100 West San Fernando Street, Suite 555

San Jose, CA 95113

Telephone: (408) 971-6270

Facsimile: (408) 971-6271

Email: kdiemer@diemerwei.com

WILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER LLP

Matthew A. Feldman (pro hac vice)

Joseph G. Minias (pro hac vice)

Benjamin P. McCallen (pro hac vice)

787 Seventh Avenue

New York, NY 10019-6099

Telephone: (212) 728-8000

Facsimile: (212) 728-8111

Email: mfeldman@willkie.com

 jminias@willkie.com

 bmccallen@willkie.com 

Counsel for Ad Hoc Group of Subrogation

Claim Holders

UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCYCOURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION

In re:

PG&E CORPORATION,

- and -

PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC 

COMPANY,

Debtors.

☐ Affects PG&E Corporation

☐ Affects Pacific Gas and Electric 

Company

 Affects both Debtors

*All papers shall be filed in the lead 

case, No. 19-30088 (DM)

Case No. 19-30088

Chapter 11

(Lead Case)

(Jointly Administered)

ORDER GRANTING THE MOTION OF THE 

AD HOC GROUP OF SUBROGATION CLAIM 

HOLDERS FOR RELIEF FROM THE 

AUTOMATIC STAY

Signed and Filed: August 21, 2019

________________________________________

DENNIS MONTALI

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge

Entered on Docket 

August 21, 2019

EDWARD J. EMMONS, CLERK 

U.S. BANKRUPTCY COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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The Official Committee of Tort Claimants (the “TCC”), on July 2, 2019, filed a motion 

(the “Motion”) (Dkt. No. 2842),1pursuant to section 362(d)(1) of title 11 of the United States 

Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”), sections 1334(c) and 1452(b) of title 28, Rules 4001 and 

5011(b) of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure and Rule 4004-1 of the Bankruptcy 

Local Rules for the United States District Court for the Northern District of California for entry 

of an order terminating the automatic stay to permit certain individuals to proceed to a jury trial 

on their personal injury and property damage claims against the Debtors arising from the 2017 

Tubbs Fire in the California Superior Court, and to request the Court in the California North 

Bay Fire Cases, JCCP 4955, to order the claims of those individuals to proceed to a jury trial 

with preference pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 36. On July 9, 2019, the TCC filed 

an amendment to the Motion to include a number of individuals with personal injury, wrongful 

death and property damage claims, as listed on Exhibit A hereto (the “Tubbs Preference 

Plaintiffs”) (Dkt. No. 2904). 

The following joinders were filed to the Motion: (1) the joinder by Co-Lead Counsel to 

the North Bay Fire Cases, dated July 2, 2019 (Dkt. No. 2850); (2) the joinder by Barbara 

Thompson, John Thompson, Matthew Thompson, Peter Thompson, Raymond Breitenstein, and 

Stephen Breitenstein, dated July 3, 2019 (Dkt. No. 2861); (3) the joinder by John Caslin and 

Phyllis Lowe, dated July 11, 2019 (Dkt. No. 2929); (4) the joinder by William Edelen, Roxanne 

Edelen, The William L. Edelen and Roxanne G. Edelen Trust Agreement Dated June 22, 2011, 

Burton Fohrman, Raleigh Fohrman, The Fohrman Family Trust Dated February 3, 1976, Jeremy 

Olsan, Ann DuBay, Jacob Olsan, the Jeremy L. Olsan and Ann M. DuBay Trust Dated 

November 29, 2011, Kathleen Groppe, Ken Kirven, Brian Kirven, and the Estate of Monte 

Kirven, dated July 11, 2019 (Dkt. No. 2930); (5) the joinder by Don Louis Kamprath, Ruth 

Kamprath, the Donald L. Kamprath and Ruth Johnson Kamprath Revocable Trust, Elizabeth 

Fourkas, Pete Fourkas, Alissa Fourkas, the Fourkas Family Trust, Greg Wilson, and Christina 

 

1

 Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Motion.

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Wilson, dated July 11, 2019 (Dkt. No. 2942); (7) the joinder by Armando A. Berriz, Armando J. 

Berriz, Carmen T. Meissner, Monica Berriz, and the Estate of Carmen Caldentey Berriz, dated 

July 11, 2019 (Dkt. No. 2943); and (8) the joinder by the Singleton Law Firm Victim Claimants, 

dated July 18, 2019, to add the individuals listed on Exhibit B hereto (Dkt. No. 3067).

The Ad Hoc Group of Subrogation Claim Holders2, on July 3, 2019, filed a Motion for 

Relief from the Automatic Stay, dated July 3, 2019 (the “Subrogation Motion”) (Dkt. No. 

2863). The following joinders were filed to the Subrogation Motion: (1) the joinder filed on 

behalf of AMICA Mutual Insurance Company, BG Resolution Partners I-A, L.L.C. (an Affiliate 

of The Baupost Group, L.L.C.), Encompass Insurance Company, Fire Insurance Exchange, 

Hartford Accident & Indemnity Company, Liberty Insurance Corporation, Mercury Insurance, 

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, and United Services Automobile Association, dated 

July 12, 2019 (Dkt. No. 2959) (the “July 12 Joinder”); and (2) the joinder by State Farm 

Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and its affiliates and subsidiaries, dated July 15, 2019 

(Dkt. No. 2983) (the “July 15 Joinder”). The parties to the July 12 Joinder and the July 15 

Joinder are collectively referred to herein as the “Subrogation Joining Parties.”

On July 19, 2019, the following papers were filed in opposition to the Motion and the 

Subrogation Motion: (1) the Debtors filed an objection (Dkt. No. 3104) and the declaration of 

Kevin J. Orsini in support thereof (Dkt. No. 3105); (2) the Official Committee of Unsecured 

Creditors filed an objection (Dkt. No. 3101) and the declaration of Thomas R. Kreller in support 

thereof (Dkt. No. 3102); (3) the Ad Hoc Committee of Senior Unsecured Noteholders filed a 

joinder to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors’ objection (Dkt. No 3106); and (4) 

certain PG&E shareholders filed an objection (Dkt. No. 3108). 

On August 7, 2019, Barbara Thompson, John Thompson, Matthew Thompson, Peter 

Thompson, Raymond Breitenstein and Stephen Breitenstein filed a reply in support of their 

 

2 The Ad Hoc Group of Subrogation Claim Holders includes all of the members listed on Exhibit A to the Third 

Amended Verified Statement of the Ad Hoc Group of Subrogation Claim Holders filed on July 17, 2019 (Dkt. No. 

3020).

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joinder in the Motion (Dkt. No. 3407), Sonoma Clean Power Authority filed a statement and a 

reservation of rights on the Motion and the Subrogation Motion (Dkt. No. 3415), and the 

Singleton Law Firm Victim Claimants filed a response in support of the Motion (Dkt. No. 

3449). 

On August 14, 2019, the Court held a hearing on the Motion, the Subrogation Motion, 

and the joinders thereto. The Court considered the Motion, the declarations of Steven M.

Campora, Robert A. Julian, and Brent C. Williams, the amended declaration of Michael A. 

Kelly, the joinders to the Motion, the replies in support of the Motion, the Subrogation Motion, 

the declaration of Benjamin P. McCallen, the joinders to the Subrogation Motion, the 

oppositions of the Debtors, the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, the Ad Hoc 

Committee of Senior Unsecured Noteholders, and the PG&E shareholders, and the declarations 

of Kevin J. Orsini and Thomas R. Kreller. On August 16, 2019, the Court issued its Decision 

Regarding Motions for Relief from Stay (“Memorandum Decision”) (Dkt. No. 3571).

Now therefore, the Court having considered the papers and the argument of counsel at the 

hearing, and for the reasons stated in the Memorandum Decision, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED 

THAT:

1. The Subrogation Motion and the joinders thereto are granted and the automatic 

stay is terminated as requested in the Subrogation Motion to allow the members of the Ad Hoc 

Group of Subrogation Claim Holders, including the Subrogation Joining Parties, and the 

respective insurers for the preference plaintiffs listed on Exhibits A and B hereto, to pursue to 

judgment their claims against the Debtors regarding the issue of the Debtors’ liability for the 

Tubbs Fire in the California Superior Court, where the claims are currently pending in JCCP 

4955. 

2. The automatic stay shall remain in full force and effect for all other purposes 

including with respect to the enforcement of any judgment that may be obtained by reason of the 

termination of the automatic stay as provided above.

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3. Notwithstanding Bankruptcy Rule 4001(a)(3), or any other Bankruptcy Rule, this 

Order shall be immediately effective and enforceable upon its entry.

4. This Court shall retain jurisdiction to hear and determine all matters arising from 

or related to the implementation, interpretation, or enforcement of this Order.

*** END OF ORDER ***

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EXHIBIT A

Alleged Tubbs Preference Plaintiffs Identified in the Motion and Alleged Indispensable 

Parties Thereto

Barbara Thompson (Joinder Dkt. No. 2861)

Indispensable Party: John Thompson (Joinder Dkt. No. 2861)

Indispensable Party: Matthew Thompson (Joinder Dkt. No. 2861)

Indispensable Party: Peter Thompson (Joinder Dkt. No. 2861)

Raymond Breitenstein (Joinder Dkt. No. 2861)

Indispensable Party: Stephen Breitenstein (Joinder Dkt. No. 2861)

John Caslin (Joinder Dkt. No. 2929)

Phyllis Lowe (Joinder Dkt. No. 2929)

William Edelen (Joinder Dkt. No. 2930)

Indispensable Party: Roxanne Edelen (Joinder Dkt. No. 2930)

Indispensable Party: The William L. Edelen and Roxanne G. Edelen Trust Agreement 

Dated June 22, 2011 (Joinder Dkt. No. 2930)

Burton Fohrman (Joinder Dkt. No. 2930)

Indispensable Party: Raleigh Fohrman (Joinder Dkt. No. 2930)

Indispensable Party: The Fohrman Family Trust Dated February 3, 1976 (Joinder Dkt. 

No. 2930)

Indispensable Party: Jeremy Olsan (Joinder Dkt. No. 2930)

Indispensable Party: Ann DuBay (Joinder Dkt. No. 2930)

Indispensable Party: Jacob Olsan (Joinder Dkt. No. 2930)

Indispensable Party: The Jeremy L. Olsan and Ann M. DuBay Trust Dated November 

29, 2011 (Joinder Dkt. No. 2930)

Heirs of decedent Monte Kirven (Kathleen Groppe, Ken Kirven and Brian Kirven) (Joinder Dkt. 

No. 2930)

Indispensable Party: Kathleen Groppe (Joinder Dkt. No. 2930)

Indispensable Party: Ken Kirven (Joinder Dkt. No. 2930)

Indispensable Party: Brian Kirven (Joinder Dkt. No. 2930)

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Indispensable Party: The Estate of Monte Kirven (Joinder Dkt. No. 2930)

Don Louis Kamprath (Joinder Dkt. No. 2942)

Indispensable Party: Ruth Kamprath (Joinder Dkt. No. 2942)

Indispensable Party: The Donald L. Kamprath and Ruth Johnson Kamprath Revocable 

Trust (Joinder Dkt. No. 2942)

Elizabeth Fourkas (Joinder Dkt. No. 2942)

Indispensable Party: Pete Fourkas (Joinder Dkt. No. 2942)

Indispensable Party: Alissa Fourkas (Joinder Dkt. No. 2942)

Indispensable Party: The Fourkas Family Trust (Joinder Dkt. No. 2942)

Greg Wilson (Joinder Dkt. No. 2942)

Christina Wilson (Joinder Dkt. No. 2942)

Armando A. Berriz (Joinder Dkt. No. 2943)

Heirs of Carmen Caldentey Berriz (Armando J. Berriz, Carmen T. Meissner, Monica Berriz) 

(Joinder Dkt. No. 2943)

Indispensable Party: The Estate of Carmen Caldentey Berriz (Joinder Dkt. No. 2943)

Indispensable Party: Armando J. Berriz (Joinder Dkt. No. 2943)

Indispensable Party: Carmen T. Meissner (Joinder Dkt. No. 2943)

Indispensable Party: Monica Berriz (Joinder Dkt. No. 2943)

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EXHIBIT B

Preference Plaintiffs Identified in Joinder of Singleton Law Firm Victim Claimants (Dkt. 

No. 3067)

Thomas Milton Howard 

Catherine Maffioli 

Glenda Samson 

Barbara Spengler 

Evelyn Venturi 

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COURT SERVICE LIST

ECF Recipients Only.

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