Pa. man wants $1 million ater being nearly electrocuted on the job

MARTINSBURG - A Pennsylvania man who nearly was electrocuted while working for a cement company in Berkeley County is suing for more than $1 million.

Edward and Connie Butler of Blair County, Pa., filed a suit March 19 in Berkeley Circuit Court against Essroc Cement Corporation and Riverton Investment Corporation.

On March 21, 2005, Edward Butler was at Essroc Cement Corporation for a high-voltage electrical job when he was electrocuted and severely burned.

The suit says Essroc and Riverton are negligent because they failed to train Butler as well as failed to provide a facemask and a pair of high-voltage electrical gloves prior to having him work on their equipment.

Butler incurred more than $20,000 in medical expenses and will continue to need medical treatments.

Butler also seeks $1 million in punitive damages, claiming Essroc and Riverton knew there were injuries with the equipment Butler worked with and should have warned him.

Butler and his wife, Connie, who have been married 30 years, claim their martial relationship has been damaged. They each claim they have lost society, affection, companionship, services and consortium of the other.

Therefore, through attorney Mark Jenkinson, the Butlers seek compensatory and punitive damages against the defendants.

The case has been assigned to Judge Christopher Wilkes.

Berkeley Circuit Court case number 07-C-241