Personal Injury Claims Involving Utilities: Electrocution, Low-Hanging Wires, Motor Vehicle Collisions
Recording of a 90-minute CLE video webinar with Q&A
This CLE course will guide counsel on litigating accidents and injuries caused by utilities, whether from motor vehicle accidents or gross negligence in maintaining equipment or bringing on untrained "extras" to augment crews. The program will cover special issues that may arise in bringing or defending these claims against utilities.
Outline
- Highly regulated nature of utilities
- Types of accidents
- Motor vehicle
- Contact with live wires
- Property damage
- Failure to maintain equipment
- Improper signage
- Toxic torts
- Premises liability
- Special pleading, notice, service requirements
- Problems in discovery
- Limits on damages
- Special issues and defenses
- Multi-employer worksites
- Employee misconduct
- Affirmative defenses
Benefits
The panel will review these and other key issues:
- What is unique about suing or defending utilities?
- Do utilities enjoy special defenses or immunities, and how can defense counsel use them effectively?
- What special discovery problems must be overcome by the plaintiff?
- Do contributory negligence defenses apply?
- What are the standards for maintenance and repair for different types of utilities?
- How has the PG&E guilty plea in California impacted how utilities defend themselves?
Faculty

Marc S. Gaffrey
Partner
Hoagland Longo Moran Dunst & Doukas
Mr. Gaffrey tries asbestos cases and oversees the trial teams of several of his clients both locally in NY and NJ and... | Read More
Mr. Gaffrey tries asbestos cases and oversees the trial teams of several of his clients both locally in NY and NJ and throughout the country. He has extensive experience in the litigation of toxic tort matters and mass tort litigation involving lead, asbestos, silica, talc, benzene, "sick building syndrome," latex allergy, PCB, diazanon, welding fumes, orthodichlorobenzene, trichloroethylene, and numerous other chemicals and pesticides. Mr. Gaffrey has handled thousands of toxic tort cases in New Jersey and New York.
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Michael T. Kearns
Partner
Hoagland Longo Moran Dunst & Doukas
Mr. Kearns is a Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney and Partner in the firm. His... | Read More
Mr. Kearns is a Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney and Partner in the firm. His areas of practice include defense of personal injury claims, construction accidents, ERISA disability claims, products liability, and property damage claims. Mr. Kearns also defends professional malpractice claims filed against health care facilities, nurses and physical therapists as well as negligence claims against ambulance squads. He also handles all aspects of automobile accident litigation, including bodily injury, underinsured and uninsured motorist claims, and coverage disputes.
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