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Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular)
Construction Site Accident
Negligence

Joe Morris v. Southern California Edison

Published: Apr. 26, 1997 | Result Date: Apr. 11, 1997 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |

Case number: 248779 –  $0

Judge

Richard G. Van Frank

Court

Riverside Superior


Attorneys

Plaintiff

Patricia A. Law
(Law Offices of Patricia A. Law APC)

Karen A. Getz


Defendant

Craig A. French


Experts

Plaintiff

George M. Brinton
(technical)

Alfred N. Roven
(medical)

Edward L. Bennett M.A.
(technical)

Defendant

Phillip L. Wheeler
(technical)

Facts

\On April 28, 1993, plaintiff Joe Morris, a 33-year-old pipelayer, was digging trenches for the purpose of laying pipe (conduit) between two Southern California Edison manholes. The plaintiff was an employee of California Pipeline Company, a subcontractor hired by defendant Edison to install the conduit. A 12,000-volt "live" cable disconnected and exploded while the plaintiff was inside an Edison manhole. The plaintiff brought this action against the defendant based on a negligence theory of recovery.

Settlement Discussions

The plaintiff made a C.C.P. º998 settlement demand for $300,000. The defendant made a settlement offer of compromise for $30,000.

Specials in Evidence

$8,600 $8,900 $235,000 $_______________

Injuries

The plaintiff he suffered first, second, and third-degree burns to his hands and face and a 35 percent hearing loss as a result of the explosion.

Other Information

The verdict was reached approximately three years after the case was filed.

Deliberation

7 to 9 hours

Poll

9-3

Length

6 days


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