PG&E Dubious of Fire Victim’s Claim for 500-Pound Emerald

PG&E Corp. says it has found suspicious monetary claims by victims of California’s wildfires, including one from a man who says a 500-pound (227-kilogram) emerald worth $280 million was destroyed at his home a year ago in the most destructive and deadliest wildfire in state history.

The utility is probing duplicate or “exceptionally large monetary claims, which appear suspicious,” according to a court filing that is part of efforts to determine PG&E’s potential liability from fire-related losses and estimate damages. U.S. District Judge James Donato will probably take up the issue Monday at a regularly scheduled hearing.

A burned-out vehicle stands during the Camp Fire in Paradise, California in 2018.

Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg

PG&E, which ...