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San Bruno blast ruling goes against PG&E

San Francisco Chronicle -- Judge Steven Dylina of San Mateo County Superior Court did not publicly release the tentative ruling, but attorneys who viewed it said he had rejected PG&E's attempt to be exempted from punitive damages in lawsuits filed by more than 350 people in connection with the September 2010 disaster.

PG&E has admitted negligence in the explosion of a high-pressure natural gas line, which killed eight people and destroyed 38 homes, and has sought to compensate victims for their losses. But the prospect of a jury awarding larger punitive damages, which are designed as a deterrent, would give the plaintiffs leverage in settlement talks.

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Submitted Oct 30, 2012 By: NOTSOGRN

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treehood Champion Author San Diego Posts:2,184 Points:424,460 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Oct 31, 2012 9:37:11 AM Ignore treehood Report Abuse Punitive Damages. The concept is correct, to punish purposeful wrong behavior and deter others from also doing things harmful to society in general. However PD goes astray when it is awarded to the plaintiffs. It should more properly go to society in general through federal, state and local government.
LetemEatCake Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:5,667 Points:1,229,950 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Oct 31, 2012 8:32:15 AM Ignore LetemEatCake Report Abuse Interesting article, Thanks!
ErnieK9LO Champion Author North Dakota Posts:2,811 Points:568,530 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Oct 31, 2012 7:19:58 AM Ignore ErnieK9LO Report Abuse I agree with tomok!!! San Bruno blast ruling goes against PG&E, no pipeline maintenance and they lose! The people with damages will win, don't let it go any other way. Any legal costs will be passed onto PG&E customers. Whatever the size or shape of the vehicle, Produce and ‘Drive’ vehicles with high MPG, are very safe, reliable, have a ‘reasonable’ cost and a good ‘value’ for the money. The price of fuel at the pump is too high! XII/XXII/MMXII!
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:33,600 Points:2,373,210 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Oct 31, 2012 12:25:55 AM Ignore tomok Report Abuse San Bruno blast ruling goes against PG&E, no pipeline maintenance and they lose! The people with damages will win, don't let it go any other way. Any legal costs will be passed onto PG&E customers. Whatever the size or shape of the vehicle, Produce and ‘Drive’ vehicles with high MPG, are very safe, reliable, have a ‘reasonable’ cost and a good ‘value’ for the money. The price of fuel at the pump is too high! XII/XXII/MMXII!
SnakeW Champion Author North Carolina Posts:21,481 Points:2,417,200 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 9:07:48 PM Ignore SnakeW Report Abuse We'll be paying for it anyway.
1fulltank Champion Author Buffalo Posts:8,041 Points:1,571,970 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 9:07:19 PM Ignore 1fulltank Report Abuse Punitive damages are awarded to deter future negligence. Negligence has not been adequately proven in this case. Unfortunate accident.
boatfloyd Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:1,858 Points:415,675 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 9:04:52 PM Ignore boatfloyd Report Abuse Good Call
rawdog1313 Champion Author Lexington Posts:3,444 Points:1,670,605 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 9:04:40 PM Ignore rawdog1313 Report Abuse The should be held accountable!
rahcat Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:2,681 Points:690,650 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 9:02:40 PM Ignore rahcat Report Abuse Shakespear: Henry VI part 2 "The first thing we do, lets kill all the lawyers".
mcmonsta Champion Author Honolulu Posts:3,347 Points:845,470 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 8:54:35 PM Ignore mcmonsta Report Abuse admit your wrong and you can pay the price...but what's the price of humanlife?
bonzoonfmb Champion Author Florida Posts:1,817 Points:664,910 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 8:53:22 PM Ignore bonzoonfmb Report Abuse PG&E has admitted negligence and are going to compensate the victims - now it is time for the lawyers to do battle.
bullseye100 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:2,531 Points:610,030 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 8:52:23 PM Ignore bullseye100 Report Abuse I hope the victims get what they deserve.
zantor Veteran Author San Bernardino Posts:258 Points:53,025 Joined:Jul 2012	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 8:51:29 PM Ignore zantor Report Abuse I speculate the problem started with a line worker who was pressured by a low level manager who was pressured by a manager just above him who was pressured by a manager above him. I speculate that nothing was written or officially stated or written-- just implied, i.e. get those numbers down (or up). This is typical in business.
NAVYHM All-Star Author Cleveland Posts:761 Points:1,405,955 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 8:49:15 PM Ignore NAVYHM Report Abuse NORMAL CORPORATE GREEDY TACTIC'S... NEXT WILL COME THE QUICK, SIGN HERE, ITS OK I'M A LAWYER CRAP... AND LETS NOT FORGET THE QUICK OUT OF COURT SETTLEMENT OFFERS... LOST OF LIVES, HOMES & BELONGINGS= $25,000 OR LESS TOO BIG CORPORATE COMPANY'S...
GAS1251 Champion Author Texas Posts:5,294 Points:1,653,930 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 8:44:17 PM Ignore GAS1251 Report Abuse DustyHorse- these costs end up getting passed along in higher prices.
postcard9 All-Star Author Massachusetts Posts:893 Points:529,195 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 8:41:09 PM Ignore postcard9 Report Abuse Tough deal.
abcdMA Champion Author Worcester Posts:8,057 Points:1,601,705 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 8:38:35 PM Ignore abcdMA Report Abuse Interesting
GAS1251 Champion Author Texas Posts:5,294 Points:1,653,930 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 8:36:00 PM Ignore GAS1251 Report Abuse They need to temper the punative damages. PG&E should pay fair compensation but outrageous punative damages encourage frivilous lawsuits.
OGW Champion Author London Posts:5,446 Points:1,558,085 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 8:35:14 PM Ignore OGW Report Abuse Lawyers go for the biggest settlement they can get and usually claim a percentage for their fee so bigger is better to them but settlements should be fair to those damaged and cover all their real loses but not a lottery type win like the powerball.
DustyHorse Champion Author Virginia Posts:6,222 Points:1,417,740 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 8:30:50 PM Ignore DustyHorse Report Abuse And this affects gas prices how?
FlyNFool Champion Author South Carolina Posts:8,384 Points:1,712,900 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 8:30:42 PM Ignore FlyNFool Report Abuse ok
libertyut Champion Author Utah Posts:1,370 Points:298,200 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 8:29:35 PM Ignore libertyut Report Abuse God Bless
LetemEatCake Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:5,667 Points:1,229,950 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 8:26:46 PM Ignore LetemEatCake Report Abuse What is a family member's life worth? Is there a price? Best wishes and blessings to the families.
TxMtb Champion Author Ohio Posts:1,670 Points:371,430 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 8:24:14 PM Ignore TxMtb Report Abuse They need to pay up for the mistake, cost of doing business in an unsafe manner, as with BP.
gd83goldwinger Champion Author South Bend Posts:1,428 Points:519,980 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 8:22:34 PM Ignore gd83goldwinger Report Abuse Best of wishes to the families.
jl1rp Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:1,975 Points:385,130 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 8:22:16 PM Ignore jl1rp Report Abuse wow
Dodge_Me Champion Author Atlanta Posts:2,214 Points:576,480 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 8:21:02 PM Ignore Dodge_Me Report Abuse Best wishes to the families
mstearno Champion Author Dayton Posts:8,174 Points:1,755,920 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 8:17:00 PM Ignore mstearno Report Abuse who cares
Skimo2012 Rookie Author Cleveland Posts:85 Points:101,610 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 8:15:16 PM Ignore Skimo2012 Report Abuse There is always next time...
diesel8888 Champion Author Salt Lake City Posts:1,309 Points:386,135 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 8:14:47 PM Ignore diesel8888 Report Abuse Ok
gumbyrex Champion Author Fresno Posts:3,441 Points:786,990 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 8:14:29 PM Ignore gumbyrex Report Abuse A just decision. PG&E must pay for their mistake.
bvrbill Champion Author Eugene Posts:3,445 Points:546,325 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 8:13:55 PM Ignore bvrbill Report Abuse PG&E should pay a fair amount. Litigation is not the lottery.
serrog Champion Author Nova Scotia Posts:5,705 Points:1,539,830 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 8:10:43 PM Ignore serrog Report Abuse messy
wayoung56 Champion Author Alabama Posts:2,920 Points:845,010 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 8:06:03 PM Ignore wayoung56 Report Abuse At least they owned up to it, but they should not be hammered for more than the actual losses...
REKEY Champion Author South Carolina Posts:8,723 Points:1,727,095 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 8:05:13 PM Ignore REKEY Report Abuse Did they expect to win?
SavALot Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:8,623 Points:1,739,410 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 8:03:44 PM Ignore SavALot Report Abuse PG&E definitely loses in this deal
s6sputnik Champion Author Austin Posts:6,332 Points:1,333,645 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 7:56:15 PM Ignore s6sputnik Report Abuse Ok
30mpg80 Champion Author Lexington Posts:10,268 Points:1,515,515 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 7:54:51 PM Ignore 30mpg80 Report Abuse Have to pay for negligence
jad1960 Champion Author Gary Posts:1,575 Points:423,780 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 7:54:44 PM Ignore jad1960 Report Abuse Lawyers are vampires out for money.
Suzy7Q Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:2,319 Points:397,255 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 7:52:22 PM Ignore Suzy7Q Report Abuse Lawyers are always the only winners.
bevmill Champion Author Georgia Posts:2,721 Points:628,225 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 7:51:52 PM Ignore bevmill Report Abuse Oh No you don't say.
Blue48 Champion Author Illinois Posts:7,450 Points:1,666,620 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 7:51:32 PM Ignore Blue48 Report Abuse SHAME ON YOU PG&E!
KhelbenArunson Champion Author Michigan Posts:4,586 Points:745,565 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 7:40:18 PM Ignore KhelbenArunson Report Abuse good.
tco9436 Champion Author Connecticut Posts:1,807 Points:743,650 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 7:36:46 PM Ignore tco9436 Report Abuse Uh OH
theschmuck Champion Author Michigan Posts:3,035 Points:1,533,785 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 7:36:33 PM Ignore theschmuck Report Abuse The courts are hell.
dumba55 Sophomore Author Chicago Posts:142 Points:37,675 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 7:35:58 PM Ignore dumba55 Report Abuse what!
Lbro Champion Author Denver Posts:1,091 Points:445,200 Joined:Jan 2004	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 7:34:45 PM Ignore Lbro Report Abuse Well...
mrbee Champion Author Little Rock Posts:3,898 Points:2,494,285 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 7:34:01 PM Ignore mrbee Report Abuse Lawyers!
Rei2012 Rookie Author Los Angeles Posts:84 Points:46,255 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 7:33:54 PM Ignore Rei2012 Report Abuse This is a hard lesson for companies like PG&E
us4usa Champion Author Missouri Posts:6,120 Points:1,137,585 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 7:33:33 PM Ignore us4usa Report Abuse So what is the price of ones life or your life???