It also cites Gus Corona, the business manager of IBEW Local 18, the employee union for the LADWP, who previously criticized the handling of the reservoir.
“It’s completely unacceptable that this reservoir was empty for almost a year for minor repairs,” he told The Los Angeles Times in an article published on Jan. 10, the lawsuit notes. “This work should have been done in-house, and they shouldn’t have depended on a contractor to do it; I truly believe it’s something that could have been avoided.”
According to the lawsuit, per People, the LADWP stated that the reservoir was left empty for a year so it could seek a contractor to fix it instead of “using in-house personnel.”
Spencer and Heidi’s lawsuit also alleges that the reservoir was designed for the public to use, making its water pressure insufficient to fight the wildfires. “Defendants deliberately designed and maintained this water supply system in this way,” the lawsuit claims, “despite Los Angeles being in a fire-prone area.”
E! News has reached out to the LADWP and Spencer’s rep for comment but has not yet heard back.
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