Hey,
A Monmouth County (New Jersey) court is holding a fire department 60% responsible and the electric power company 40% responsible for injuries suffered when a man stepped on a downed 7200 volt electric line in his home driveway. The damage award was $20.5M.
THE ISSUE: The court determined that the fire department departed the scene without taking sufficient action to prevent the accident.
The jury awarded the $20.5 million in damages Friday after the man lost an arm and a leg in 2007 after stepping on those live electrical wires that had fallen on his driveway during a storm. The man was awarded $18.5 million and his wife, Patricia, was awarded $2 million.
A jury deliberated more than 5 hours last week before they returned the unanimous verdict that found Jersey Central Power & Light Co. 40 percent responsible for the injuries and the Northside Engine Company, a fire company in Tinton Falls, 60 percent responsible.
The settlement amount was to cover medical costs, disability, deformity, physical suffering and the cost of prosthetic devices which have to be changed every three to five years.
===NOTE: The court determined that the FD had left the scene of the downed high tension wires knowing that the 7,200-volt wire was still on the ground and in the mans driveway….the FD called electric utility company, but they then left leaving the area unprotected.
An important case for your FD attorney to look into and provide you with direction on what to or what not to do.
A jury deliberated more than 5 hours last week before they returned the unanimous verdict that found Jersey Central Power & Light Co. 40 percent responsible for the injuries and the Northside Engine Company, a fire company in Tinton Falls, 60 percent responsible.
The settlement amount was to cover medical costs, disability, deformity, physical suffering and the cost of prosthetic devices which have to be changed every three to five years.
===NOTE: The court determined that the FD had left the scene of the downed high tension wires knowing that the 7,200-volt wire was still on the ground and in the mans driveway….the FD called electric utility company, but they then left leaving the area unprotected.
An important case for your FD attorney to look into and provide you with direction on what to or what not to do.
PTSD CHALLENGE:
Citing mental trauma, PTSD, a veteran Salisbury (MA) Firefighter has been out of work since the July accident that took the life of his colleague, Lt. Timothy Oliveira. Captain Jay Pollard Jr, a 32-year veteran of the SFD, has not returned to the fire station since coming to Oliveira’s aid following the July 29 workplace accident that led to his eventual death two days later. Lt. Oliveira, in addition to having fire duties, was in charge of vehicle maintenance for the department and was crushed when a jack slipped while he worked beneath a vehicle that was parked behind the fire station As their Lieutenant lay pinned by the weight of the vehicle, his fellow Firefighters attempted to rescue him and save his life.
Yesterday, Fire Chief Richard Souliotis said Captain Pollard has not spoken to him since the accident nor contacted the department to explain his absence. The town manager has, however, received a letter from a doctor at Boston University who examined Captain Pollard. In the letter, the doctor said it is his opinion Pollard is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder due to Oliveira’s death. But the town manager said he does not recognize the letter as valid because it does not meet the requirements of the town’s employee union contracts.
HERE is much more: http://tinyurl.com/c2tgngu
Citing mental trauma, PTSD, a veteran Salisbury (MA) Firefighter has been out of work since the July accident that took the life of his colleague, Lt. Timothy Oliveira. Captain Jay Pollard Jr, a 32-year veteran of the SFD, has not returned to the fire station since coming to Oliveira’s aid following the July 29 workplace accident that led to his eventual death two days later. Lt. Oliveira, in addition to having fire duties, was in charge of vehicle maintenance for the department and was crushed when a jack slipped while he worked beneath a vehicle that was parked behind the fire station As their Lieutenant lay pinned by the weight of the vehicle, his fellow Firefighters attempted to rescue him and save his life.
Yesterday, Fire Chief Richard Souliotis said Captain Pollard has not spoken to him since the accident nor contacted the department to explain his absence. The town manager has, however, received a letter from a doctor at Boston University who examined Captain Pollard. In the letter, the doctor said it is his opinion Pollard is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder due to Oliveira’s death. But the town manager said he does not recognize the letter as valid because it does not meet the requirements of the town’s employee union contracts.
HERE is much more: http://tinyurl.com/c2tgngu
NEW JERSEY FF GETS A TICKET FOR RECKLESS APPARATUS OPERATION
A Volunteer Firefighter from Somerset County has been cited for careless driving in a crash that wrecked a $400,000 tanker last weekend. Lewis Moore Jr. told Bernards Township police he was responding to a brush fire when he realized he was going too fast (44mph in a 35 mph zone) and lost control of the Pottersville Volunteer Fire Company’s 1985 Chevrolet tanker Sunday. The fire truck overturned. Moore and a 16-year-old riding in the truck sustained minor injuries. We have pictures on our home page.
Take Care-BE CAREFUL.
BillyG
The Secret List 11-8-11 / 0900 Hours
www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com
A Volunteer Firefighter from Somerset County has been cited for careless driving in a crash that wrecked a $400,000 tanker last weekend. Lewis Moore Jr. told Bernards Township police he was responding to a brush fire when he realized he was going too fast (44mph in a 35 mph zone) and lost control of the Pottersville Volunteer Fire Company’s 1985 Chevrolet tanker Sunday. The fire truck overturned. Moore and a 16-year-old riding in the truck sustained minor injuries. We have pictures on our home page.
Take Care-BE CAREFUL.
BillyG
The Secret List 11-8-11 / 0900 Hours
www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com
