Confidential
Settlement – $1,500,000Court
San Luis Obispo Superior
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Defendant
Experts
Plaintiff
Bill Waltman
(technical)
Laura L. Liptai
(technical)
Larry R. Beck
(technical)
Helmut Brosz
(technical)
Robert N. Anderson
(technical)
Facts
The plaintiffs are the parents of the decedent, Christopher Timothy "Tim" Cutler, aged 32, who resided in San Luis Obispo. Early in the morning of Jan. 23, 2004, a 7,200 volt power line, owned and maintained by Pacific Gas & Electric Company, fell when a conductor-to-splice connection failed. The downed power line started a fire in front of the decedent's house. An automatic recloser de-energized the line. Tim walked outside to inspect the fire, as did several of his neighbors. Suddenly, the downed power line was manually re-energized by a PG & E operator at a San Luis Obispo substation, causing the line to spark and whip about. Tim's hand came into contact with the power line and he was immediately electrocuted. Three days later, he died from the electrical shocks.
Settlement Discussions
The case settled at $1.5 million at a mediation with Coleman F. Fannin.
Damages
Loss of love, society and companionship.
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