Son Fights for ‘Justice’ for Chinese Immigrant Father Who Died in Eaton Fire
A Father’s Legacy of Resilience
Born into poverty in rural China on November 8, 1940, Zhi Feng Zhao lost his parents at the age of 4 but turned his childhood trauma into a life of resilience. He relied on financial aid and scholarships to complete his education, eventually earning a place at Peking University. After graduation, Zhao found a job in Shanghai, where he met Shaw’s mother.
“He is a person of fortitude, perseverance, intelligence,” Shaw said. “And that’s the three words (to describe him): fortitude, intelligence, and perseverance.” Zhao’s influence extends far beyond his academic achievements. He instilled in his son a love for learning and problem-solving from an early age, teaching him how to speak up and resolve disputes, even as a child.
The Day Everything Changed
As night fell on January 7, Shaw’s unease grew. Everything had seemed fine earlier when he spoke with his father, but later that evening, a text from his father’s neighbor changed everything. The neighbor, who often looked out for his father in Shaw’s absence, warned him about the fire creeping dangerously close to Altadena. Normally, Shaw would take comfort in the neighbor’s vigilance, but the neighbor was out of town that week and could only alert him to the danger.
Worried but unable to do more, Shaw monitored fire updates online. “I just stared at the Cal Fire website, minute to minute, (to) check the status for each area,” he said. Until 1 a.m. Wednesday, the fire still seemed distant, and his father’s neighborhood was marked safe. Relieved, Shaw finally allowed himself to rest.
Honoring a Life Well-Lived
In the days that followed, Shaw began working to honor his father’s memory, even as he struggled to process his grief. Through it all, he has found comfort in the support of family and friends and the kindness of strangers.
“Let me put it this way: I received a lot of the help from strangers,” he said. “They helped comfort me at the shelter that night when I was looking for my father, and they made phone calls to hospitals and to the Red Cross, just in case my father was injured. And they tried to find my father as much as they could. They also prayed for me.”
The Lawsuit
On Friday, January 17, Shaw joined a growing number of victims’ families in filing a wrongful death lawsuit against Southern California Edison, accusing the utility of failing to properly maintain its equipment and manage vegetation growth around it, despite red flag fire warnings in the days prior — failures they claimed sparked the deadly inferno.
“I think this case, like many of the others that are going to be filed, is about justice for Mr. Zhao, justice for the community,” said Rob Jarchi, an attorney representing Shaw. “This was a preventable tragedy. None of this had to happen.”
Conclusion
Shaw’s fight for justice is not just about holding Southern California Edison accountable for his father’s death, but also about honoring his father’s legacy and ensuring that similar tragedies do not occur in the future.
FAQs
Q: What is the lawsuit about?
A: The lawsuit is a wrongful death claim against Southern California Edison, alleging that the utility’s failure to properly maintain its equipment and manage vegetation growth around it contributed to the deadly inferno that killed Shaw’s father.
Q: Why is Shaw filing a lawsuit?
A: Shaw is filing a lawsuit to hold Southern California Edison accountable for his father’s death and to ensure that similar tragedies do not occur in the future.
Q: What is Shaw’s goal in filing the lawsuit?
A: Shaw’s goal is to achieve justice for his father and to bring attention to the need for utilities to take responsibility for their actions and to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
