Fresno County Jail Inmate Sues PG&E Following Explosion

Lawsuits are now surfacing less than a week after that massive gas line explosion in Northwest Fresno.  Sam Ouk, a Fresno County inmate who sustained burns, is now suing PG&E and could possibly sue Fresno county as well.
  
The litigation battles have begun.  Wednesday, Fresno attorney Butch Wagner filed a lawsuit on behalf of Ouk.  The 35 year old, serving a six month sentence on stolen vehicle charges, is suing PG&E for alleged negligence.  Ouk suffered burns on his head, face, neck, hands and right arm last Friday, after a gas line exploded while he and other inmates were doing work at a Fresno County gun range.

Wagner says, "A gas pipeline needs to be constructed in a such a way that it’s not going to explode upon common contact such as from a vehicle or something like that or some guy digging from a shovel."

A Fresno County worker was operating a tractor at the Fresno County Sheriff’s gun range last Friday, when the gas line exploded.  Wagner says from what he’s gathered so far, Fresno County may not be at fault.

"My clients so far said that they saw no digging going on and that there was a back hoe there that from what Inderstand was just being used to level the area not to dig."

Still, a claim has been filed against Fresno County for upwards of $ 650,000.  Wagner says the county has six months to respond before a lawsuit can be filed against it.
   
Ouk is suing for medical expenses, general damages and lost wages. 

CBS 47 legal analyst Charles Magill says, "He’s an inmate in jail now, but the reality is he may have been employed before going to jail and he probably has the opportunity to be employed after getting out of jail."

Meanwhile, the family of Fresno County employee Ismael Arreazola is focusing solely on his recovery.  In an exclusive interview, Arreazola’s mother says she is trying to stay strong for her son.

Josefina Arreazola says, "I have pain for my son.  My son is special to me. It’s too heavy for me and my family."

Ouk is expected to be released from jail June 9th.

Wagner says as least two more inmates who were burned will be added to the lawsuit soon.

Fresno county supervisor Henry Perea says he and his colleagues are planning a blood drive for the all of the burn victims.