Greedy Trial Lawyer
Qwest's $39.5 Million Inspection Program
Category: Torts For Our Time
Utility poles do not inspect, maintain or repair themselves. Utility companies do that (or, are supposed to do that) on some periodic or regular basis. But, sometimes a pole is totally neglected for 46 years. Then, a lineman is sent up the pole.
Jury awards lineman $39M in Qwest lawsuit
A Denver District Court jury awarded a former lineman with Xcel Energy more than $39 million in damages in a lawsuit against Qwest Communications International Inc. on Thursday.On June 29 2004, Xcel worker Andy Blood was doing service work on an 800-pound utility pole near a railroad right of way on 58th Ave. and Pecos St. in Denver when the pole collapsed.
Blood, who fell 25 feet, was left a paraplegic in the accident.
On later inspection, it was determined that the 46-year-old pole was rotted below the groundline and had never been inspected, maintained or repaired.
The phone and electrical utilities entered into an joint agreement where they agreed to use each others' poles for utility lines -- under the caveat that the poles would receive periodic maintenance.
Blood, who was 25 and recently married at the time of the accident, sued Qwest, which in turn sued Xcel.
After a nine-day civil trial presided by Denver District Court Judge Sheila Rappaport, the seven-person jury determined that Qwest was fully responsible for the accident -- effectively absolving Xcel of any damages.
The jury awarded Blood and his wife Carrie $21.5 million in compensatory damages and $18 million in punitive damages against Qwest.
Does anyone think that this particular utility pole was the only uninspected one owned by Qwest?
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