The jury was supposed to be empanelled in February to hear and decide ten families’ test cases against PG&E. But over the last few weeks, while the attorneys argued pre-trial motions, a number of those families’ cases settled. Today, the judge ruled that the four cases that are still on for trial (Healy, O’Neill, Chea, and
San Bruno Judge Makes More Rulings As Trial Approaches
With the January 2 trial date fast approaching, today’s case management conference before Judge Dylina lasted most of the day.
Punitive Damages Claim Won’t Be Split Off
PG&E asked the court to split off the issue of whether PG&E should pay punitive damages and save that issue for a second trial later next year. The
San Bruno Judge Refuses to Throw Out Victims’ Claim for Punitive Damages
Today Judge Dylina denied PG&E’s request to throw out of court the victims’ claims for punitive damages. Instead, he is leaving the question of whether PG&E should pay punitive damages to the jury.
PG&E argued that the punitive damages issue was getting in the way of settlement negotiations. PG&E says it has done nothing deserving of punishment.
Judge Appointed in Pradaxa Lawsuits
More than 100 federal lawsuits have been filed across the country as a result of consumers being killed or injured by the side-effects of the anti-coagulant Pradaxa, manufactured by the German company Boehringer Ingelheim. 
Those suits have now been consolidated in a "Multi-District Litigation" proceeding, and they have all been sent to a judge
San Bruno Gas Explosion: Punitive Damages Hearing Postponed
Judge Dylina has postponed argument on whether the victims’ claims for punitive damages against PG&E should be thrown out of court. Arguments will now be heard on October 29 instead of October 15.
The judge also postponed to December 21 arguments on what evidence, if any, will be excluded from trial.
The trial date of
Isabella and El Camino: How Many More Accidents Before Caltrans Gets It?
Two years ago Chris Chandler was killed by a southbound motorist as he tried to cross El Camino at Isabella in Atherton. After investigating the design of the crosswalk, we filed suit against Caltrans on behalf of Chris’ family. We’ve been arguing in court that the crosswalk is dangerous and that Caltrans should either fix
PG&E’s Lawyer Denies PG&E Ever Lost Its Way
PG&E’s new $10 million media campaign features Tony Earley, PG&E’s CEO, saying that in recent years, PG&E had "lost its way." (Cue the music and the video of cute little kids.)
That, I suppose, is what passes among PG&E’s top management as an apology.
Seems that Earley forgot to run his sound bite by PG&E’s
Pradaxa Patients Bleed to Death
Atrial fibrillation is a type of irregular heartbeat that can cause blood clots, heart attacks and strokes. For years, doctors have prescribed blood-thinners like Coumadin, also known as warfarin, to those who suffer from atrial fibrillation. The blood thinners prevent the clots from forming, and so prevent the heart attacks and strokes.
A few years ago a
San Bruno Explosion: Two Years Later
Hundreds of PG&E’s victims still haven’t been compensated for what they’ve been through. PG&E admits it caused the explosion, but it still hasn’t settled their claims.
Once the lawsuits started, some thought PG&E would want to “settle quick.” Those folks were wrong. The fact of the matter is that PG&E has paid settlements on
Trial Against PG&E Postponed. (Again.)
Trial was set to begin October 9. But because an important witness became ill and could not attend his deposition, everyone expected that the date would have to slip a couple of weeks.
But today, Judge Dylina ruled that trial will not begin until January 2, 2013. That’s a disappointment for the plaintiffs, who