Law firm sues PG&E in class action suit following Christmas morning explosion in …

A class action lawsuit against Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) has been filed by a law firm in Sacramento on behalf of residents and business owners in Capitola Village following a significant explosion on Christmas morning in 2024.

The incident occurred around 5:10 a.m. behind the El Toro Bravo Mexican restaurant in Capitola Village on Monterey Avenue. Witnesses reported an explosion that led to a structure fire in the area. One resident reportedly sustained severe injuries due to the explosion.

According to the lawsuit, the explosion was a result of a malfunction in PG&E’s underground utility infrastructure. The plaintiffs claim that the overheating of wiring caused the gas service line to melt, as it was in the same underground trench as the electrical wiring. Gas was said to have been leaking for approximately two hours before it ignited, causing extensive damage to nearby properties.

Bill Kershaw, the founding partner at Kershaw Talley Barlow, the law firm representing the residents and business owners of Capitola, emphasized that the incident was completely preventable. Kershaw stressed the importance of maintaining safe infrastructure compliant with regulations to prevent such disasters in the future and ensure the safety of Capitola Village.

The law firm also mentioned that they are looking into individual claims from residents and nearby business owners who were affected by the explosion and anticipate filing additional lawsuits.

In response to these lawsuits, PG&E stated its awareness of the situation and expressed confidence in the safety of its local gas system. The company is taking additional precautions by replacing equipment to protect the community further. PG&E is conducting two investigations to determine the factors contributing to the safety incident, one internally and another by a third-party engineering firm, Exponent.

Overall, the residents and business owners of Capitola Village are seeking justice for the damages caused by the explosion and are determined to hold PG&E accountable for the negligence in maintaining its underground utility infrastructure. Efforts to ensure compliance with regulations and prevent similar incidents in the future are underway to safeguard the community and prevent further harm.