Dr. Jeffrey Nordella will reveal his 100-plus participant health impact study results at a community Town Hall meeting on Saturday, October 14, 2017. Sponsored by Save Porter Ranch and Food & Water Watch, the Town Hall meeting will allow attendees the opportunity to learn more about Dr. Nordella’s study and ask questions about his methods […]
read more »Victims of the Porter Ranch Gas Blowout are taking their fight against a SoCalGas plea deal to the steps of the Los Angeles County Superior Court in Santa Clarita. On 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 29, the victims — along with attorneys Brian Panish of Panish Shea & Boyle LLP and R. Rex Parris of the […]
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A Los Angeles Superior Court will hear arguments tomorrow in the Southern California Gas Company case regarding continued relocation of residents from the Porter Ranch well blowout. This hearing follows the reversal by the California Court of Appeal of another superior court judge who rejected the County’s request for additional time before residents are asked […]
read more »Los Angeles, April 15, 2016 – The massive gas injection well blowout of well SS-25 in the Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Storage Facility operated by SoCalGas created a geyser that lasted over three months. Natural gas, noxious odors, hazardous chemicals, and toxic pollutants rolled down the hillside into Porter Ranch and surrounding areas. The blowout […]
read more »An Aliso Canyon gas leak that sickened Porter Ranch residents and forced many to evacuate has been stopped, but residents of the Los Angeles suburb are still feeling the effects of what is now being called the largest methane leak in U.S. history. On Tuesday a playground was closed in Porter Ranch when an oily […]
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Since capping well SS-25, SoCalGas has changed its temporary relocation policy twice. This has caused confusion for residents who are attempting to determine whether it is safe to go back home. On Friday February 26, 2016, a day after Judge Berle decided that residents relocated to temporary housing will not be forced to return to […]
read more »Ever since SoCalGas finally capped well SS25, after 110 days, the company has warned residents that their relocation assistance program would soon come to an end. Thanks to the County and various plaintiff’s counsel, however, additional relocation time for residents has been accomplished. On Feb. 25, 2015, SoCalGas announced it would continue to provide temporary […]
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Despite the fact the well spewing noxious fumes into the atmosphere for four months was finally capped last week, there’s still a lot of work to be done before the Porter Ranch community regains a semblance of normalcy. Lawmakers in the state Assembly are considering a bill that will place a moratorium on gas injections […]
read more »110 days after the leak began, the Porter Ranch gas well that spewed over 100,000 metric tons of gas into the air has officially been capped. State officials from the California Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) confirmed on February 18 that SoCalGas finally capped the well, putting an end to four months […]
read more »The four-month-long saga to cap the leaking gas well in Porter Ranch, California is finally almost over. On February 11, work crews punctured the well’s outer casing and began pumping the well with a compound that would temporarily seal it. The well will be permanently sealed in the next few days, at which point the […]
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Attorney Patricia Oliver of R. Rex Parris law firm has written a letter to City Attorney Mike Feuer on behalf of Save Porter Ranch and thousands of Porter Ranch residents. In her letter, Oliver asks Feuer to live up to his statements regarding his desire to see Porter Ranch residents return to a safe home […]
read more »Just days after its initial announcement that Porter Ranch residents would have just 48 hours to return home once SS 25 was verifiably sealed, SoCalGas has reached an agreement with the City Attorney to extend that timeframe. The new agreement will give residents eight days and seven nights to return home once the state’s Division […]
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In a six-page letter sent along to lawyers representing Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas), Attorney Patricia K. Oliver wrote on behalf of thousands of Porter Ranch residents and Save Porter Ranch to request formally that SoCalGas make public all steps and tests purportedly done to protect the community. SoCalGas reported this week that it was […]
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SoCalGas has announced they’ve begun the fifth and final phase to fix the gas well blowout at the Aliso Canyon Underground Storage Facility and expect to have the project completed by the end of February. Once the failed well is plugged, the California Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) will come and review […]
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Recently, there has been a large volume of calls to elected officials across Los Angeles from constituents expressing concern over abnormally high bills from the Southern California Gas Company. Affected constituents have reported receiving SoCal Gas bills 4 to 6 times higher than their usual rate for this time of year. On Feb. 2, Councilmember […]
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As gas continues to flow incessantly from well SS 25, SoCalGas isn’t the only one losing money. Since the gas well blowout began in late October over 3,000 people have moved out of Porter Ranch and local businesses have felt the impact. The town of 30,000 is full of small businesses that rely on local […]
read more »On Jan. 28., environmental attorney and activist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. spoke on CBS Radio Los Angeles (KNX) about the AQMD’s actions regarding the SoCalGas well blowout. When asked how California regulators are not doing enough, Kennedy answered that the language in the AQMD’s decision protected the gas utility, and intended to permanently immunize SoCalGas […]
read more »With new information coming out daily about the effects of the Porter Ranch gas leak, it’s difficult to stay up to date on developments. The town hall meeting organized by our firms on Friday, January 22 was an opportunity for residents of the affected area to come out and listen to our panel of experts […]
read more »Gas has been spilling out of well SS25 for three months now, and SoCalGas has not been able to provide definitive answers for residents of Porter Ranch and surrounding communities who have been affected by the blowout. Our town hall meeting was organized in order to address important concerns we all have as a result […]
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We are proud to announce that our upcoming town hall meeting scheduled for Friday, January 22, 2016 will have two Congressional Representatives in attendance, as well as famed environmental attorney and activist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Congressmen Brad Sherman and Steven Knight will speak, adding to the list of notable attendees. Joining environmental attorney Robert […]
read more »In a letter to the AQMD on behalf of Porter Ranch Residents and Save Porter Ranch, Patricia Oliver from R. Rex Parris law firm outlined a series of complaints on how the case against SoCalGas is being handled. Oliver’s formal written objection claims the gas utility has been withholding fundamental information about the extent of […]
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LOS ANGELES—Councilmember Mitchell Englander has partnered with the Valley Economic Development Center (VEDC) to provide micro-loans to small businesses that are struggling due to the ongoing Aliso Canyon Gas Leak. The VEDC is offering micro-loans to affected businesses ranging from $1,000 to $50,000 and small business loans up to $250,000 at market interest rate. Additionally […]
read more »On January 15, 2016 the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services held a meeting for members of Porter Ranch and its surrounding communities. The event was held at the Shepherd of the Hills Church, and attracted 1500 members of the community. The event was held to inform the public on what has been done so […]
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By Attorneys Frank Petosa and Rene Rocha The BP Oil Spill (aka the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill) shocked the world in 2010. The disaster took place in federal waters off the coast of Louisiana, but its impact soon spread to several other states as well—turning upside down the lives of people across the Gulf Coast […]
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Our firms have organized another town hall meeting on Friday, January 22, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. at the Warner Center Marriott in Woodland Hills to address the Porter Ranch community’s biggest concerns regarding the ongoing gas well blowout. In response to our client’s most pressing questions, we’ve arranged for a panel of experts to attend […]
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On its Aliso Canyon Information Center homepage, SoCalGas features two press releases. One is about the relocation efforts; the other is called “Gas Leak Estimates Reduced by 60-Percent.” Such a significant-sounding drop may suggest that the crisis is being quickly addressed, but there seems to be more to the story than SoCalGas readily shares. One […]
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The unfortunate reality of large-scale crises is that when disaster strikes, there are always people ready to take advantage of the chaos. Various residents of Porter Ranch and the surrounding communities affected by the SoCalGas blowout have posted on social media about their recent experiences facing suspicious activity, including theft, fraud and door-to-door scams. It’s […]
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The meeting will be run by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services who is now coordinating all the agencies working on the gas leak. The Governor has been invited, but has not confirmed. We’re hopeful he will be on hand for this historic meeting. Anticipated speakers include: Top level representation from California Public Utilities […]
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One of our firms, Panish Shea & Boyle LLP, successfully defeated mammoth utility company SoCalGas in a prior suit filed against them for a horrendous domestic explosion resulting from a gas leak. On Jan. 8, 2016, the California Court of Appeals upheld a $19,786,818 jury award in favor of plaintiff Pengxuan Diao for the January […]
read more »Our attorney Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an esteemed environmentalist, clinical professor, and Chief Prosecuting Attorney for Riverkeeper and Chairman of Waterkeeper Alliance, was interviewed by Thom Hartmann for The Big Picture RT about the environmental crisis caused by the SoCalGas Aliso Canyon gas well blowout. Following Governor Brown’s declaration of a state of emergency in […]
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SoCalGas attempted to minimize the environmental effect of its Aliso Canyon gas well blowout today. In an interview with the BBC, Regional Public Affairs Manager Mike Mizrahi, speaking on behalf of SoCalGas, said that he would not classify the leak as an environmental catastrophe. This statement comes mere days after Gov. Jerry Brown declared Porter […]
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Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas), following a court order filed by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), plans to burn methane gas leaking from the Aliso Canyon facility in order to get rid of it. The process will begin as soon as next week. This will be the company’s latest attempt to stop […]
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Claims in Porter Ranch gas leak could cost utility billions of dollars So far, Southern California Gas Company has spent over $50 million dollars in reparations and evacuation assistance, but L.A. Times reports that the company may have to pay billions to move past the issue. According to Brian Panish, an attorney assisting homeowners, there […]
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When residents of an area are forced to relocate due to a natural disaster, landlords and property owners are often left holding the proverbial bag. In areas surrounding Porter Ranch, some property owners are taking advantage of the tragedy by price gouging residents who left the natural gas laden area out of fear for their […]
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Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in Porter Ranch on Wednesday. Residents had been waiting for the Governor to take action since Oct. 23, when the Aliso Canyon gas well blowout occurred. A petition calling for Brown to declare a state of emergency, created by one family affected by the disaster, had 722 […]
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Porter Ranch was once said to have some of the cleanest air in the Los Angeles valley. Now, the rotten egg scent of hydrogen sulfide, a foul-smelling additive to the naturally colorless, odorless fuel, continues to permeate the air. Recent reports have speculated that the disaster has the ability to alter the entire climate of […]
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Porter Ranch, CA – January 4, 2016 – Governor Brown met this evening with members of Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council (PRNC) to hear firsthand how the SoCal Gas Leak has been affecting the community. Prior to meeting with the PRNC, Governor Brown visited the Aliso Canyon storage facility to examine the state of the crisis […]
read more »SoCalGas Put Profits Before Public Safety PORTER RANCH, January 3, 2016 — “Newly uncovered information shows that Southern California Gas Company admitted five years ago it operated numerous leaking wells in Aliso Canyon, received a ratepayer increase to upgrade these wells-and yet deliberately failed to replace safety valves on its gas injection wells,” said Patricia […]
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The Los Angeles Unified School District board authorized the temporary relocation of 1900 students and staff to schools away from Porter Ranch, CA. The authorization came after many Porter Ranch parents signed a change.org petition, demanding for the relocation of their children. Southern California Gas Co. discovered a massive blowout in October 2015 in its […]
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As the SoCalGas crisis escalates, residents of Porter Ranch, CA, a town located near the blowout, are calling for Governor Jerry Brown to declare a state of emergency. On Dec. 19, Christine Katz started a change.org petition demanding that the governor make this declaration so that residents can gain compensation and provisions to help them […]
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This Thursday, Porter Ranch residents attended a town hall meeting to address important issues involving the Aliso Canyon gas well blowout. Experts in medical, legal, and environmental fields were present to talk to attendees about the effects of the blowout on their families, pets, and community. The event was a success with more than 1500 […]
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As part of our investigation, a member of our team interviewed residents about the health problems they are suffering from after the gas well blowout on October 23, 2015. Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) has claimed that the gas is non-toxic. However, hundreds of families are reporting that they have experienced new health problems because […]
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LOS ANGELES— Today Councilmember Mitchell Englander, Chair of the Public Safety Committee, submitted four emergency motions all approved today in City Council relating to the Southern California Gas Company (SoCal Gas) Aliso Canyon Gas Leak which has persisted now for 53 days. The motions cover four major aspects of the crisis: support for the County’s […]
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On October 23rd, 2015, Southern California Gas Co. discovered a massive gas well blowout in its Aliso Canyon facility. The rupture is releasing tons of gas into the atmosphere and is affecting the town of Porter Ranch – located a mile away from the facility. SoCalGas has claimed that the gas is non-toxic as it […]
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Thousands of Porter Ranch residents are currently struggling with the harmful effects of the Aliso Canyon gas well blowout. Parents are taking their children out of school for fear of their health. Families are packing up and relocating away from their homes. Those who are pet owners also have to contend with the gas’s unique […]
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Partnering law firms of the Porter Ranch lawsuit are hosting a Porter Ranch town hall meeting on December 17th, 2015, at 6:30 pm to provide residents with a step by step plan on how to cope with the disaster of the Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) methane gas well blowout. This town hall meeting is […]
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Residents of Porter Ranch, CA held a rally on December 12, 2015 against the Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) for their failure to act responsibly after their facility in Aliso Canyon suffered a massive gas well blowout. Gas, containing methane and mercaptans, has been flowing from the facility into the Porter Ranch community. Thousands of […]
read more »KTLA`s Lynette Romero, Chris Burrous, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. discussed a massive methane gas well blowout that has prompted fears over potential long-term health effects. This segment aired on the KTLA 5 Morning News on Dec. 12, 2015.
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Yesterday, SoCalGas released a statement updating the public on its efforts to plug the Porter Ranch gas well blowout. The company now estimates it will take at least three to four months to contain the current health and environmental crisis. The incident began on October 23, 2015 when SoCalGas workers, at their Aliso Canyon natural […]
read more »Residents of Porter Ranch attended a community meeting on Tuesday, December 8th, 2015. The meeting focused on the disastrous gas well blowout at the SoCalGas facility in Aliso Canyon that has forced thousands from their homes and caused widespread health problems for residents. About 350 to 400 residents concerned about the current situation in Porter […]
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Trusting Morgan Lewis Attys ‘A Mistake,’ Gas Leak Judge Says
Law360, Los Angeles (February 11, 2020, 10:01 PM EST) — A California judge overseeing thousands of suits over the 2015 Aliso Canyon gas leak told Morgan Lewis[...]
Dr. Nordella To Reveal Gas Blowout Health Impact Study Results At Community Town Hall Meeting
Dr. Jeffrey Nordella will reveal his 100-plus participant health impact study results at a community Town Hall meeting on Saturday, October 14, 2017. Sponsored[...]
Porter Ranch Victims to Take to Courthouse Steps to Fight SoCalGas Plea Bargain
Victims of the Porter Ranch Gas Blowout are taking their fight against a SoCalGas plea deal to the steps of the Los Angeles County Superior Court in Santa[...]
Major Hearing Scheduled in SoCalGas Porter Ranch Well Blowout Case
A Los Angeles Superior Court will hear arguments tomorrow in the Southern California Gas Company case regarding continued relocation of residents from the[...]
689 Residents File First Wave of Claims Against CA for Gas Injection Well Blowout
Los Angeles, April 15, 2016 – The massive gas injection well blowout of well SS-25 in the Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Storage Facility operated by SoCalGas created[...]