Jury reaches a verdict in trial over deadly, destructive Palisades Fire

LOS ANGELES — After two days of deliberations, a jury told the court that it was at an impasse and unable to reach a unanimous decision in the trial about the origin of the devastating January 2025 fires in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES — After two days of deliberations, a jury told the court that it was at an impasse and unable to reach a unanimous decision in the trial about the origin of the devastating January 2025 fires in Los Angeles.

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On Thursday afternoon, jurors were told to return to deliberate Friday after they sent a note to U.S. District Judge Anne Hwang stating that nothing could be done to reach a unanimous verdict on all of the counts against Jonathan Rinderknecht. The note said that jurors on both sides “are unwilling to change their opinion” and that they are “at a standstill,” unsure of how to proceed.

Defense attorney Steve Haney requested an Allen charge, in which a judge gives specific instructions to encourage a deadlocked jury in a criminal trial to reach a unanimous verdict and avoid a mistrial. It is also commonly known as the “dynamite charge” or “hammer charge,” because it serves as a final, high-pressure effort to force an agreement.