Grant Wins Dismissal for Utility in Electrical Shock Case

Greg Grant of the Traverse City office recently obtained dismissal on behalf of a large utility company in a case that was litigated for over four years. The plaintiff in the case alleged negligence after she was electrocuted while inside of her vehicle when it came into contact with a low-hanging power line during a severe thunderstorm in Northern Michigan. The evidence demonstrated that a tree branch had fallen on the line causing the line to hang approximately 4-6 feet above the highway. The plaintiff alleged that the line struck her vehicle, sending an electric shock into her right arm that was touching the gear shift. As a result of the shock, the plaintiff claimed she sustained permanent paralysis of the arm. After extensive discovery, the circuit court granted the utility company’s dispositive motion holding that the event was not reasonably foreseeable under the circumstances.

Greg Grant is a partner in our Traverse City office where he concentrates his practice on municipal law, employment and labor law, insurance defense, and litigation. He has extensive litigation experience in the areas of employment and labor law, police liability, first amendment law, due process, Open Meetings Act (OMA) and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and has earned dismissals in each of these areas.  Additionally, he frequently provides educational and training seminars on municipal topics to clients. He may be reached at (231) 922-1888 or ggrant@cmda-law.com.