North Carolina Mother Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against EnergyUnited for Son’s Electrocution Accident
The Cleveland, North Carolina mother of a 6-year-old boy who died in an electrocution accident last March is suing EnergyUnited for his wrongful death. Deborah Kenemore filed her North Carolina wrongful death lawsuit against the power company earlier this month in Rowan County.
In her suit, Kenemore claims that her son Nathan died after coming into contact with an uninsulated high-voltage power line while climbing a tree in a neighbor’s backyard. The power line was carrying 7,200 volts of electricity.
Kenemore contends that, under the National Electrical Safety Code and the electric company’s own policies, EnergyUnited failed in its responsibility to prune the tree or put into place other protective measures (such as issuing a warning that the power line posed an electrical hazard) so that no one would get hurt. The white pine tree was 14 feet taller than the uninsulated electrical line and, based on EnergyUnited’s own pruning schedule, was six years overdue on being cut back. Kenemore's suit notes that the tree and power line were easily visible to electric company workers that visited the property every month to read the electric meter.
Her North Carolina wrongful death lawsuit also says that around 7pm on March 27, Nathan became unresponsive after climbing the tree and stayed there even after Kenemore screamed for him to respond and tried to revive him herself. An ambulance transported Nathan to Davis Regional Medical Center where he was declared dead at around 8:03 pm. Electrocution was listed as the cause of death.
Kenemore is seeking punitive damages from the electrical company for her son's wrongful death, as well as compensation for “negligent infliction of emotional distress.”
Electric Shock Facts
• About 1,000 deaths a year are caused by electrocution.
• Electrical shock occurs when electrical current runs through the body.
• Examples of injuries from electrical shock include thermal burns, cardiac arrest, tissue, nerve, and muscle damage, and death.
Mother sues EnergyUnited after boy electrocuted, CharlotteObserver.com, September 18, 2008
Power company sued in death of 6-year-old, SalisburyPost.com, September 17, 2008
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