Groundbreaking Settlement of $1.8 Billion Against Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) and Their Parent Company, Sempra Energy
In 2021, PARRIS Law Firm, in collaboration with Panish, Shea & Boyle and plaintiffs’ counsel, secured a groundbreaking settlement of $1.8 billion against Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) and their parent company, Sempra Energy. This settlement holds these companies accountable for the Aliso Canyon Gas Well Blowout and their repeated misconduct during the litigation. The massive 2015 blowout released toxic gases into the Porter Ranch community and caused severe health problems for the residents. Despite their ongoing denial of wrongdoing, the defendants agreed to pay $1.8 billion to settle the personal injury claims.
Throughout the legal battle, SoCalGas, Sempra Energy, and their legal counsel faced multiple discovery process violations, leading to substantial sanctions totaling over $5.7 million. The court imposed these sanctions for the intentional and bad-faith withholding of crucial documents. In February 2020, an additional $525,610 in sanctions were awarded, highlighting the defendants’ willful misconduct. This significant settlement of $1.8 billion ensures justice for the victims of the Aliso Canyon disaster and emphasizes the importance of holding oil and gas companies accountable for the pain they caused the Porter Ranch community.
