Butte County survey gathered input on claimants’ interactions with Fire Victim Trust

By Doug Teeter Butte County Supervisor, District 5

At its June 14, 2022, meeting, the Butte County Board of Supervisors directed staff to develop a voluntary, anonymous survey to gather input from Camp Fire survivors on their interactions with the Fire Victim Trust. Staff developed the Camp Fire Claims Public Survey to understand the status of claims and payments resulting from Camp Fire losses and the overall fairness of the private claims process being used.

Survey questions were developed to help the County better understand the concerns of claimants and determine whether any particular concerns are widely held. There were 54 questions total within three categories (Personal, Business and Minors). The total number of responses submitted on-line and on paper was 1,491.

My desire for the County to survey claimants was twofold: verify data from the Trust and determine where other issues in the claims process may exist. I believe the results, as of close of the survey, supported the Trust’s data regarding how many claimants have received determinations. However, one could infer there was a delay in receipt of funds for 1/3 of those who had a determination: those owning businesses and minors were being processed after adults with non-business claims. While I’m not sure the survey will make any changes to the way the Trust and attorneys are processing claims, I do hope we can make a difference in the way situations such as this are handled in the future. Cathy Yanni, the Trustee of the Trust, has been open to receive concerns directly from claimants. I have forwarded to her the emails I received from claimants; I am always willing to do that for anyone else. I can be reached at dteeter@buttecounty.net

An executive summary of the results of the County’s Fire Victim’s Trust survey was presented at the December 13th Butte County Board of Supervisor’s meeting.

Executive Summary results of Camp Fire Claims Public Survey

1,491 Responses (“Not Applicable” responses were removed from the percentage calculations.)

Order of perceived fault for preliminary payment delays on business claims:

1. Fire Victim Trust (54%)

2. Unknown (25%)

3. Other (10%)

4. Their attorney (4%)

5. Third party hired to administer the Trust (4%)

52% Indicate the minor claimant has not received a determination letter

82% Indicate the minor claimant has not received funds deposited into an account for the minor’s benefit

6% Indicated the Special Master reviewed and approved the claims determination and disbursement measures a first payment of 45% of their determination letter

88% Indicate representation by an attorney 68% Indicate their original attorney fee was 33% 86% Indicate their attorney has not decreased their fee

BUSINESS CLAIMS:

19% Have a business claim

Indicate their business is operating

14% Received a preliminary payment on their business claim 24% Received a determination on their business claim

6. Completing their business claim (3%)

MINOR CLAIMS:

19% Indicate legal representation of a minor claimant

66% Indicate representation by an attorney

56% Indicate their attorney requested their firm file the minor claim

51% Indicate their attorney did not inform them of the Special Master review

45% Indicate their attorney informed them that funds would be held in trust

74% Indicate their attorney did not inform them they could file a minor claim directly with the Trust

88% Indicate the minor claimant did not meet personally with the Special Master

Estimates for how much time the minor’s attorney spent obtaining information for submitting the minor’s claim (removed N/A):

1. 1 hour or less (43%)

2. Other (26%)

3. 2-4 hours (18%)

4. Up to 1 business day (6.5%)

5. More than 1 business day (6.5%)

86% Indicate the attorney did not meet with the minor claimant

71% Have not received a copy of the claim the attorney submitted

59% Do not think an attorney fee of 25% is fair