A summary of Southern California-related business litigation developments during the past week.

Southern Pacific, Calnev Pipeline Sued: A group of San Bernardino residents whose neighborhood was rocked by a train wreck and a massive fuel line explosion in May filed suit in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday against Southern Pacific Transportation Co., Calnev Pipeline Co. and others. The suit alleges negligence in the incidents that took place 13 days apart, left six people dead and leveled nearly 20 homes. The cause of the derailment and the subsequent pipeline explosion remain under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. James Davis, lawyer for the 349 residents, said the May 12 derailment occurred because the railroad overloaded a freight train with inadequate brakes. He claims that a negligent inspection of the pipeline after the train wreck led to the explosion. (Filed Feb. 1, 1990. Case No. C751026)