Judge Sets New Trial Date For Pipeline Explosion Lawsuits

The judge overseeing the lawsuits filed by the victims of last year's pipeline explosion in the Crestmoor neighborhood has set a new date for the trial, the Associated Press is reporting.

San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Steven Dylina originally said the trial should be ready to start on July 2, 2012. But he said today that the trial date for the more than 95 cases filed against Pacific Gas & Electric Co. would be scheduled for July 23, 2012, according to AP.

The attorneys for the plaintiffs and PG&E are expected to meet in December to set up a process so that the lawsuits can be brought to trial as a group.

According to Bay City News, the into eight different categories: wrongful death; serious bodily injury requiring treatment or hospitalization; minor bodily injuries and property loss; minor bodily injuries with no property loss; those who were present at the time of the explosion and lost property; those who were present at the time of the explosion and did not lose property; those who were not present at the time of the explosion and lost property; and those who were not present at the time of the explosion and lost little or no property.

Dylina has asked the attorneys to select one lawsuit they believe would best represent all the other cases in each of the eight categories.

The 16 "representative sample" cases would then be tried simultaneously when the trial starts next July.