Mock Trial - Civil Case Gen.

Who are the plaintiffs?

• duly authorized Administrators of the respective Estates of 12 victims of the Dip Fire

• 12 decedents: Ali Alekri, Coby Ackerman, Maya Buckley, Elijah Bullie, Ethan Donovan, Isabella Kelly, Jack Martinez, AJ Palacios, Leena Saif, Ryan Sanghavi, Emberlynn St. Hilaire, Isabelle Townley

• initially filed separately, Court consolidated to instant action

Who is the defendant?

• Midlands Gas and Electric (MG&E)

• Midlands corporation

• services Rapid River Valley (in Midlands)

When was the accident?

• on or around 1:43 am

• January 1, 2026

What did the single-vehicle accident crash into?

• A utility pole on Dip Road

• owned by MG&E

• pole carries an electrical line from ans nearby transmission tower near a residential area

When was MG&E notified of the accident?

by or around 2:10 am

What did the accident with the pole cause?

• pole + adjoining equipment fail to operate as intended

• spark ignited

• starts a fire = Dip Fire

• spreads to a wildfire

• took days to contain

• 12 decedents died as a result

when was 911 called?

• on or around 4:25 am

• January 1, 2026

• smoke reported

When was MG&E informed of the fire?

• on or around 4:25 am

• January 1, 2026

• in the area

Who is Aggie Stackhouse?

• defense witness

• executive vice-president of the defendant (MG&E)

Who is Landon Norris?

• driver

• crashed a car into an electrical pole owned by MG&E

• January 1, 2026

• 3rd yr medical student Midlands State University College of Medicine (MSUCOM)

• mom fell (fractured hip) in hs (wait 6 hrs in ER)

• go into emergency medicine

• younger brother Marcus

• money troubles, debt from med school (6 figures)

• best friend: Eden Yamal (in undergrad + med together)

• fell for Eden

What is the plaintiff suing for?

negligence

The plaintiff in this civil case the burden of proof is to prove negligence by:

• “preponderance of the evidence”

• more likely than not

• dif than BARD

What are the 4 elements to establish to prove negligence?

1. duty - defendant owed plaintiff duty of care (undisputed)

2. breach - def. breached duty (in dispute)

3. causation - “but for,” did MG&E actions cause it? (in dispute)

4. harm/injury - (undisputed)

how many potential breaches/theories to def. duty of care does complaint advance?

12

What are the 2 affirmative defenses that defendant must prove?

• intervening cause was the real cause of the fire (even if breach, not cause)

• unavoidable accident (nothing could’ve been done to prevent harm)

What witnesses can only the plaintiff call?

• Landon Norris (driver)

• Emerson Brock (safety officer for MidStar)

• Nat Prescott (engineering expert)

What witnesses can only the defense call?

• Laurie Alsaffar (expert horticulturist)

• Sage Everly (expert on utilities)

• Finley Gray (MG&E Employee)

• Aggie Stackhouse (MG&E Executive VP)

Who are the swing witnesses?

• Morgan Jacob (MG&E employee)

• Parker Rose (eyewitness)

• Charlie Weaver (responding police officer)

• Eden Yamal (vehicle passenger)

What are the 2 classes of witness?

lay or expert

What is the significance of Section 1.4 of Midlands Electric Reliability Code?

• heightened standard of care for pub. utility companies

• states: “Every public utility shall furnish and maintain such adequate, efficient, just, and reasonable service, instrumentalities, equipment, and facilities . . . as are necessary to promote the safety, health, comfort, and convenience of its patrons, employees, and the public.”

What are the 12 negligent acts or omissions?

FAIL TO SUFFICIENTLY:

• train employees

• maintain electrical infrastructure

• maintain foliage near electrical lines

• fund safety operations

• enforce own policies

• respond to/address own policy violations

• inspect/repair utility poles

• properly monitor weather conditions leading up to and during DP

• observe/heed signs that indicate or should've indicated likelihood of equipment failing/malfunctioning in a manner as to ignite fire

• to shut down affected area of power grid in timely manner

• comply w/ applicable statutory/professional standards of care

• causing/exacerbating DP

What are the affirmative defenses?

• a third-party crashing into MG&E’s utility pole

• the storm

• the foliage in the area

December 31 - Eden & Landon

• 2025 → 2026

• plan for holiday together (short winter break, no travel)

• pregame @ Landon’s → Chuggie’s Two (new bar, identical to old ver. which burned)

• pregame- L: 1 beer E:2-3 beers

• arrive @ 8pm

• empty → 10 pm: packed

• L: couple cocktails (whiskey sours or screwdrivers)

• meet back together b4 midnight for countdown

• midnight: free Fireball shots “Firework shots” L: none E: 3 shots

• L: tired, drunk more than meant, spread over hr, high tolerance, looser

• E: worried, sobriety checks, satisfied

Landon’s account of the crash

• go to Eden’s place theyre crashing

• take Dip Road, cut thru Rapid River Valley

• MG&E transmission tower less than ¼ mile off stretch (tall steel lattice)

• overgrown (weeds & grass) ab knee-high, up base of the metal legs

• never witness worker clearing + yr b4 crash = small brush fire near tower (put out quickly, predictable w/ overgrown + dry)

• long & winding, hard 2 see edge of road

• Deadman’s Curve: dangerous, many accidents

• left Chuggies Two 1:30 am, Jan 1, 2026

• light rain (1st time in 4-5 months) → rain worsens on Dip Road

• speed (storm behind them): 40mph

• @ curve: 1:40 am

• creature ran into road (likely deer, said dog)

• swerve, back of car slides out, correct, hit utility pole

• impact, loud bang, airbag, E: no airbag, injure hand

What was the mocking name for MG&E?

“Midland Gas and Excuses” “Midlands Greed and Electric”

What was the mph on Deadman’s Curve?

35mph (changed from 55mph)

Landon’s account after the crash

• E: doesnt believe creature was in road

• phone slipped away, E: called 911 = 1:45 am

• cracked window, pole no longer standing straight (lean away)

• saw few sparks come off top of pole for couple of secs, stops

• power line look a bit slack on side it was leaning toward & taut on other side

• first responders/law enforcement arrive, Officer Weaver interview

  • how fast, drinking, what happened b4 crash?

• inform officer of sparks

• EMT look @ them, E: fractures

• → Joey Davis Memorial Hospital

  • L: concussion, cuts = stitches at hairline, fractured wrist, overnight

  • E: surgery, middle/ring/pinkie on right hand broken, chance to lose full dexterity, L: guilt, havent spoken to E

• learn ab fire in hospital, start along Dip Road, on news

• released: Jan 1, 2026, no lasting injuries

Landon’s account of MG&E interactions

•