Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Southern California Gas Company on Behalf of Porter Ranch Homeowners Affected by the Gas Leak
REDLANDS, Calif., Nov. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- McCuneWright, LLP, a Southern California complex litigation law firm, and The Kick Law Firm, APC, a Los Angeles based class action law firm, filed a class action suit today in Los Angeles County Superior Court on behalf of William Gandsey, and all other residents of Porter Ranch, against Southern California Gas Company and its parent company Sempra Energy, resulting from the ongoing and uncontrolled natural gas leak at Southern California Gas Company's Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility located immediately adjacent to the Porter Ranch community. There are an estimated 30,000 residents of Porter Ranch.
The natural gas leak was first reported to governmental regulatory authorities on October 23, 2015. To date, all efforts to correct the natural gas leak have failed and the leak continues unabated. Southern California Gas has stated that it may take months before the leak can be sealed. Since at least October 23, 2015, Plaintiff and the Porter Ranch community have been, and continue to be, physically invaded by gases, chemicals, noxious odors, pollutants, and contaminants emanating from the natural gas leak at Defendants' Aliso Canyon facility, located at 12801 Tampa Avenue, Los Angeles, California. Since the start of the natural gas leak, the Southern California Air Quality Management District has logged 499 complaints from residents in the area surrounding the Aliso Canyon facility. Complaints have included reports of negative health impacts, such as nausea, dizziness, vomiting, shortness of breath, nose bleeds, and headaches.
While the lawsuit will be seeking damages for those losses, according to Taras Kick of The Kick Law Firm, "the most important thing right now for the homeowners is to know the health implications of their exposure to these chemicals." Richard McCune of McCuneWright, LLP, states that "The homeowners have received conflicting information that the exposure is not a health concern, while at the same time the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has recommended that the Southern California Gas Company provide free, temporary relocation to some residents. In light of the mixed messages, and the known dangers of some of the chemicals that reportedly are being released, there needs to be a comprehensive release of information to the Porter Ranch homeowners so that they can make independent decisions regarding their health."
To accomplish this, The Kick Law Firm and McCuneWright will be seeking emergency relief from the Court to require Southern California Gas Company to immediately provide exposure and health information to the residents of Porter Ranch, so that the residents can make informed decisions concerning their own health.
Richard McCune of McCuneWright and Taras Kick of The Kick Law Firm are available for interviews and comment. A copy of the filed complaint is available at http://mccunewright.com/
CONTACT: Patricia Espinosa
Phone: 909.557.1250
SOURCE McCuneWright, LLP
Share this article