[RE] PG&E - One year later

On 2010 September 09 at about 18:00, one of the Pacific Gas & Electric (PG & E) 30 inch diameter gas pipelines exploded into flames. The resulting fire killed eight people and injured dozens more. While I am uncertain of exact numbers, I am sure that a few hundred people had their homes destroyed and required relocation. Even after all the main gas sources were switched off, the fire continued to burn for several hours into the next morning.

After that, PG & E took time to reevaluate the pipeline system and probably increased inspection and laid down firmer enforcement on regulations. Many people were displaced because of the exploded pipeline. And as a consequence, PG & E is now facing many of these people in court.

Damien doesn't think suing PG & E is the best approach:

I see no point in both parties wasting the time, effort, money, and any other resources on going to trial with this, unless the only way these people are able to get compensation is by suing.

Damien suggests that instead of making this a political thing and going to court to sue PG & E, why does PE & E not simply compensate victims of the explosion? Maybe "compensation" cannot be as simple. What exactly is the value of a life? What must PG & E compensate to those families of the eight people who perished in the fire?

Is there a numeric or monetary value of a human life? Some value to give to those families to compensate them?

Not only does PG & E have to worry about these cases in court, but I'm sure that government agencies are investigating (or have investigated), too. I wouldn't be surprised if PG & E received fines or penalties for failing to meet certain standards or pass proper inspections. Hopefully this is an example that will continue to remind us that disasters like this can still happen...