Two more families and four more people filed lawsuits today against PG&E, claiming the utility was negligent for the Sept. 9 gas pipeline explosion and should be held responsible for their injuries sustained in the fire.

The six separate suits filed in San Mateo County Superior Court are similar to the suits filed Tuesday. But these accuse Pacific Gas & Electric Co. of negligently designing and operating Line 132, the pipeline that exploded near Earl Avenue and Glenview Drive, which resulted in injury. The lawsuits also claim the explosion caused a product liability issue, which means PG&E could be held responsible for damages if the pipeline was found to be defective regardless of any fault on their part.

The explosion "is part of a pattern whereby PG&E fails to inspect, maintain, and operate underground facilities and/or equipment within its control notwithstanding that it knew or should have known that the facilities' poor condition posed a serious threat to public health and safety," the lawsuits state.

The law firm of Mike Danko, a San Mateo attorney who won a case against PG&E after the deadly 1992 gas line explosion in Santa Rosa and settled a case involving the 2005 underground utility fire in downtown San Francisco, is representing the residents.

The residents who filed suits include the DeLeon family, along with Epifania Balingit, the Healy family and four residents: Angie Williams, Steve Hoff, Brianne Low and Rose Manuofetoa.

According to the lawsuits, the residents' injuries were a direct result of PG&E's operation of the pipeline, which, the firm says, has been a "run-to-failure" attitude toward replacing old pipes and maintenance practices known to cause risk.

"That's the strategy of running old equipment until it fails and then dealing with the damage inflicted instead of investing the money necessary to prevent the failure from happening in the first place," Danko said. "The practice appears to be part of PG&E's long-standing corporate culture of placing profits over people."

In total, there have been 13 lawsuits filed since the Crestmoor explosion. 

Katie Romans, a PG&E spokeswoman, said the utility hasn't received the latest lawsuits filed or the other suits filed this week. However, she said, the utility is reviewing the first two lawsuits filed.

"In the meantime, our focus is on rebuilding the neighborhood," Romans said.