PG&E Looking to Resolve Explosion Lawsuits by Fall

PG&E's CEO said Monday the company has settled a number of the lawsuits residents have filed stemming from the 2010 San Bruno pipeline explosion, and the company is expecting to resolve all of them by September, according to MarketWatch.

In a press conference held before the company's annual shareholders meeting in San Francisco, CEO Anthony Earley declined to provide details about how many lawsuits have already been settled or how much each person was compensated for.

But Earley said he expects more lawsuits to be settled out of court as the July jury trial approaches. PG&E is facing more than 250 lawsuits for the disaster, which left 38 homes destroyed, eight people dead, and many more homes damaged and people injured. 

According to MarketWatch:

PG&E expects to resolve all lawsuits filed against the company over the 2010 fatal pipeline explosion by September, as well as resolve expected fines that state regulators have said they plan to levy against the company for its role in the disaster, Earley said.

Most of the lawsuits have been grouped together in a court case that has been set for trial in July.

Earley said he hopes the July trial date would drive additional settlements.

In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle earlier this week, Earley appeared to be concerned about the overall financial toll the lawsuits and fines from the fire could take on the company. The company expects to pay up to $2 billion over the next two years to cover costs related to the explosion. But his main concern seems to be restoring PG&E's integrity.

He answered a question about whether it has been frustrating to have new pipeline safety problems surface almost on a weekly basis nowadays:

You'd love to say, "I know what the scope is that I've got to work with." But I guess I'm happy that people are willing, particularly internally, to surface those issues. And that's the message that we keep trying to give: let's identify them, and let's get on with it. These issues are going to come out, but you've got to keep your eyes focused on what the ultimate goal is.

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