Homebuilder Toll Brothers sues SoCal Gas over Porter Ranch leak

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Luxury homebuilder Toll Brothers has filed a lawsuit against Southern California Gas over the massive leak in Aliso Canyon that the builder says caused extensive financial losses.

The leak at the facility near Porter Ranch lasted nearly four months and is considered the worst natural gas leak in U.S. history.

Toll Brothers says its development of the Porter Ranch area and the sale of new homes came to a halt after the 2015-16 leak and more than 20 homebuyers who were already under contract canceled their purchases.

The builder says that in the six-month period before the leak to the 6 months after it, its net home sales went from 74 to negative 1 with the cancellations.

The suit claims SoCal Gas knew as far back as 2008 that the wells were in danger of a blowout. And rather than work to prevent one, the company pumped even more gas into the wells at a faster rate.

SoCal Gas declined comment on the pending litigation.