LOS ANGELES — Relatives of the grandson of the founder of Watts’ Nickerson Gardens housing complex sued the Southern California Edison Co. Wednesday, alleging the utility failed to properly maintain its equipment and prevent the Eaton Fire that claimed their loved one’s life in his Altadena home in January.

The late Rodney Nickerson’s grandfather was William Nickerson Jr., who founded the housing development that carries his name. The Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit allegations by Rodney Nickerson’s family members include inverse condemnation, trespass, nuisance and negligence.

The suit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. An SCE representative issued a statement Wednesday regarding the suit, expressing sympathy for the recovery victims and stating that the complaint will be addressed “through the appropriate legal process.”

Plaintiffs’ attorney Carl E. Douglas said Nickerson “was more than just a victim of the Eaton Fire, he was a pillar of his community and a link to a historic legacy. His death was avoidable and Southern California Edison must answer for its role in this tragedy. We’re here to make sure they do.”

The Eaton Fire was not a legally defensible “act of God,” but was instead started by sparks from SCE high-voltage lines, according to the suit, which further alleges that Edison prioritized profits over safety and that the utility’s “recklessness and conscious disregard for human safety” was a “substantial” factor in causing the blaze.

Nickerson, 82, bought his Altadena home in 1968 and worked as a Lockheed Martin project engineer at for 45 years. Despite evacuation warnings, Nickerson chose to stay in his Alta Pine Drive home, believing the fire would not reach him, the suit states.

However, Nickerson was later found dead in his bed.

Established in 1954, Nickerson Gardens is the largest public housing development in Los Angeles, with nearly 1,070 units.