Pennsylvania Attorneys Secure Summary Judgment for Electrical Utility Client

Pennsylvania attorneys Edward A. Smallwood and Colby S. Bryson successfully obtained summary judgment for an electrical utility company in a lawsuit filed in the Circuit Court of Monongalia County, West Virginia that involved catastrophic and permanent injuries.

Plaintiff was attempting to deliver building supplies to a residence located in Monongalia County, West Virginia, when he encountered telephone and cable lines on private property that did not allow his vehicle to pass. Plaintiff exited the vehicle and attempted to manipulate these lines using materials in the vehicle to raise them to a level sufficient to allow him to pass. In the process of doing so, Plaintiff inadvertently made contact with our client’s primary distribution line, causing catastrophic injuries to himself in the millions of dollars as alleged by a vocational expert’s life care plan.

However, after engaging in extensive discovery over a period of several years and comprehensively briefing the relevant issues, included complex issues relating to the National Electric Safety Code, Litchfield Cavo attorneys successfully argued that their client was not negligent and did not proximately cause the plaintiff’s injuries.

Ed practices from both the Pittsburgh, PA and Barboursville, WV offices. He focuses his practice in toxic tort matters, products and premises liability, and trucking liability. He is a frequent speaker at conferences that address toxic tort, utility and mass litigation.

Colby’s practice encompasses an array of civil litigation matters, including product liability, credit union litigation, premises liability, toxic tort and motor vehicle claims. His experience includes previously working for a regional insurance defense firm where he focused primarily on general liability and toxic tort matters.