Veteran judge takes over Porter Ranch gas leak litigation

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Yvette M. Palazuelos is now presiding over the nearly 400 coordinated cases filed in the 2015 Porter Ranch gas leak.

Palazuelos was assigned to the cases Wednesday following the elevation last month of the previous presiding judge, John Shepard Wiley Jr., to the 2nd District Court of Appeal. Wiley, a complex civil judge, had presided over the litigation from its inception.

There is a 20-day time frame in which a party could challenge Palazuelos' appointment and exercise a 170.6 challenge.

If none is made by Jan. 30, proceedings will move forward with her. If a party does file a challenge, a hearing will take place Feb. 4.

Palazuelos was appointed in 2000 by Gov. Gray Davis after serving as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District for a decade.

While hearing unlimited civil cases, she presided over the $1.5 billion negligence case brought by the family of Michael Jackson against concert promoter AEG over the singer's death, a case AEG won.

Last year, Palazuelos adjudicated the Santa Monica voting rights trial, ruling the city's at-large voting system violated the law.

A total of 150 law firms have filed claims on behalf of about 38,000 people, alleging the ruptured gas well maintained by Southern California Gas Company caused them harm. Southern California Gas Leak Cases, JCCP4861 (L.A. Super., Ct., filed Feb. 2, 2016).

The cases to be settled include a $119.5 million agreement to end a civil suit brought by the state of California and a $4 million plea deal reached between the utility and Los Angeles County.

That case is on appeal after an appellate panel ruled victims might have a case for restitution, which they did not receive under the criminal case plea deal. People v. Southern California Gas Company, 6SC00433 (L.A. Super. Ct., filed Feb. 2, 2016).

Co-lead trial counsel in the Porter Ranch cases are Brian Panish of Panish, Shea & Boyle LLP and Thomas Girardi of Girardi Keese. Liaison counsel is Paul Kiesel of Kiesel Law LLP.