Second Lawsuit Filed Against PG&E

Another resident has filed a class-action lawsuit against Pacific Gas & Electric Co. in response to the Sept. 9 natural gas explosion and fire that killed eight people and left 37 homes destroyed and dozens of other homes damaged in the Crestmoor neighborhood.

Daniele DiTrapani owns a home that was near the explosion and was at home when the blast occurred, which left him injured, according to the lawsuit filed in San Mateo County Superior Court.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for all residents impacted by the explosion. Similar to the lawsuit filed by resident Steve Dare, DiTrapani's lawsuit seeks to get a judge to turn over a $100 million recovery fund PG&E pledged for blast victims to a third party.

In addition to the fund, PG&E President Chris Johns said the utility has already presented Mayor Jim Ruane with a check for $3 million to help cover the costs of responding to the disaster and to "rebuild the parks, rebuild the streets, rebuild the sidewalks."          

The company also has promised to issue checks of up to $50,000 to individual households affected by the explosion and fire.