Daily Business Report: Wednesday, August 20, 2025
California Energy Utilities Value Human Life Too Much, Regulators Believe
By MacKenzie Elmer| Voice of San Diego
A Californian’s life was worth $100 million to certain investor-owned utilities. That is, until state regulators ordered them to drop the price.
The dollar figure is called the value of a statistical life. In this case, it’s worth spending $100 million to prevent a death according to San Diego Gas and Electric and Pacific Gas and Electric which helps utilities justify certain investments – namely, wildfire prevention.
While a morbid exercise, putting a value on human life or in other words, picking a limit to spending on avoiding death, is a practice common for businesses and governments.
Newsom Puts Issa’s District in the Blast Zone
By Deborah Sullivan Brennan | Voice of San Diego
For five years, Rep. Darrell Issa has held the only reliably red congressional seat in San Diego County. Newsom’s plan to redraw California’s voting districts could upend that.
Gov. Gavin Newsom is proposing what lawmakers are calling an emergency redistricting plan for California, aimed at turning at least five red congressional seats blue. Issa’s seat is one of those targets. A Politico report cited leaked charts showing that his district could shift it from a safe Republican district to one that leans Democratic.
Newsom pitched the redistricting proposal after Texas began redrawing its political lines to eliminate five Democratic seats. President Donald Trump is pushing the Texas plan with Gov. Greg Abbott to bolster the GOP’s House majority in next year’s midterm election, by skewing voting districts in Republicans’ favor.
Hahn Loeser Adds the Walters Levine & DeGrave Law Firm in Tampa and Sarasota
By Hahn Loeser
Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP is pleased to announce that the Walters Levine & DeGrave law firm, with its eight attorneys and 11 staff members, has joined the Firm as of August 15. Walters Levine & DeGrave with offices in Tampa and Sarasota focuses on civil litigation, construction, and real estate and estate planning law. With this addition, Hahn Loeser now has four offices in Florida, including its existing offices in Fort Myers and Naples. The Firm also has offices in Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, and San Diego.
“We are excited to expand our footprint in Florida, deepening our presence in this growing market,” stated Hahn Loeser’s CEO and Managing Partner Stanley R. Gorom III. “Walters Levine has a strong reputation for creatively and efficiently helping its clients achieve their objectives, and for providing outstanding client service. For 105 years, these have been the hallmarks of Hahn Loeser’s service to its clients.”
Walters Levine’s Managing Shareholders Stuart Jay Levine, Joel W. Walters and Heather A. DeGrave have joined Hahn Loeser as Partners.
