Description
A construction worker was electrocuted when the worker hooked a chain to the bucket of a backhoe that had incidentally made contact with live power lines overhead. Before beginning the project, management warned the workers about the live power lines, but did not seek to have the lines de-energized or put up any safety barriers to prevent workers from being electrocuted. The company violated its own written safety program and certain safety standards in the contract with the city.
Prosecutors:
Attorney General James Doyle; Assistant Attorney General Daniel O'Brien
Incident Type: Electrocution
County: Waukesha
State: WI
Date: May 20, 1991
Additional Materials
Folder for Richard Knutson Inc. materials
Available Case Materials Include:
Case/Court Decisions
Media Clips & Gov't. Press
Contact for Additional Information:
Unavailable
Victims
| First |
Last |
Age |
Title |
Employer |
Injury Type |
| Todd |
Taylor |
22 |
Construction Worker |
Richard Knutson |
Fatality |
Defendants
| Name |
Type |
Title |
Plea Info. |
Conviction Sentence |
| Richard Knutson Inc. |
Entity |
Entity |
Unavailable |
Jury found guilty of criminal negligence. On appeal, the court affirmed the conviction, explaining that the company had notice that the power lines were present and should have been aware that failing to comply with safety standards while working in proximity to the live power lines created a substantial risk of harm to employees. The company’s failure to take basic safety precautions was a substantial cause of the worker’s death by electrocution. |
|
Crimes Charged: |
Penal Crimes: Negligent Homicide by Operation of a Vehicle
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Other Crimes: None
|