JURY SELECTION GOT UNDERWAY MONDAY IN BERNALILLO IN A CIVIL CASE RESULTING FROM THE MASSIVE LAS CONCHAS FIRE IN 2011. THE CASE CENTERS ON WHETHER TWO UTILITY COMPANIES SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR THE WILDFIRE THAT BURNED MORE THAN 150-THOUSAND ACRES AND DESTROYED DOZENS OF HOMES.
THE FIRE STARTED WHEN A TREE FELL ONTO POWER LINES IN THE JEMEZ MOUNTAINS. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN 300 PLAINTIFFS IN THE CASE, INCLUDING INSURANCE COMPANIES AND PROPERTY OWNERS.
