San Francisco-Oakland Attorney Comments on San Bruno Class Action Lawsuit and New Pipline Safety Legislation
According to the Mercury News San Bruno residents have begun filing class-action lawsuits in San Mateo County Superior Court over the San Bruno explosion that killed eight people and destroyed 37 homes. The lawsuits seek to force PG&E to turn over control of the $100 million victims fund to an independent third-party. In one lawsuit specifically, Daniele Ditripiani, a resident of San Bruno, seeks unspecified damages to be paid to him and others. According to the lawsuit, DiTrapani was at home on September 9th when the blast occurred and that he “has been injured and suffered damages." The lawsuit is the second class-action against the utility during the recent aftermath of the explosion and claims PG&E was negligent and that it was the utility’s actions or lack of action that caused the 30-inch pipe to explode, stated the Mercury News . The complaint also alleges that residents there have been “contaminated by debris, ash, (and) toxins” due to the blast and fire. Also according to the lawsuit, cleanup timing remains unclear as well as the timeframe for when San Bruno can return to a so-called “normal state.” The lawsuit indicates that response and clean-up are estimated at over $10 million, with debris removal running about $2 million.
According to the LA Times, an investigation into the explosion looked at work performed on a sewer near the ruptured line in 2008 and the method used by the city to replace the sewer line, which is known to pose risks to nearby pipes. In addition, the LA Times reported, in a separte report, that Rep. Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco) announced legislation that would mandate stricter regulations of gas pipelines nationwide, and that Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer just introduced a bill to impose more stringent pipeline safety standards. Speier also announced legislation to mandate pipeline operators nationwide equip lines with an automatic shut-off, highlighting the fact that this technology would have reduced the San Bruno explosion’s destruction and ferocity. Also part of the bill, pipeline operators would also have to advise homeowners if they live in proximity to high-pressure gas mains. The manual shut-off process took nearly two hours following the San Bruno explosion. The Feinstein-Boxer bill also mandates many other actions, such as automatic electronic valves replace current manual valves and that in-line inspection devices be installed, federal officials create standards for leak detection devices, federal inspector personnel be doubled, safety violation fines be increased, and older lines in seismic areas be prioritized.
If you or a loved one suffered a loss due to the San Bruno explosion, please contact the Brod Law Firm for a free consultation today. We have over 10 years experience helping vicitims of similar situations receive the compensation they deserve.
