Crime & Safety

Judge, Lawyers Meet to Set Tone for Explosion Lawsuits

San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Steven Dylina held the case management conference for all the lawsuits, now coordinated under one case and numbering about 75 different complaints, and said the case was the court's top priority.

In the first of what is expected to be a long series of hearings, lawyers representing PG&E and people who are suing the utility for the Sept. 9 pipeline explosion met with a judge today to lay the groundwork for the proceedings and address any initial concerns.

San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Steven Dylina held the case management conference for all the lawsuits, now coordinated under one case and numbering about 75 different complaints, and said the case was the court's top priority.

In making that point, Dylina decided to delay hearing a lawsuit an investor filed against PG&E's board of directors on behalf of the company and shareholders until the Crestmoor neighborhood residents' lawsuits are resolved.

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"We have a number of people who suffered horrific loss," and the top priority will be to address their concerns first, Dylina told about 30 lawyers who filled the courtroom.

Dylina also said he was considering not including in the coordinated case the class-action lawsuits filed against PG&E. But lawyers for those cases will likely have another opportunity to have the lawsuits heard, he added.

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Speaking after the hearing, lawyer Frank Pitre said the attorneys representing the fire victims were confident that the case would be handled efficiently and resolved in less than a year.

"This court has set a policy to make this case its top priority for resolution," said Pitre, whose firm is representing about 50 people affected by the fire and who will be acting as one of two liaisons for all the lawyers during the proceedings. "I think that message was loud and clear and a message that we all embrace."

The next hearing is expected to take place at 9 a.m. June 30 in the Redwood City Hall of Justice. Dylina said that he expects the case to go to trial and that the trial will likely take place in San Mateo.


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