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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Phone lineman sues for injuries after he fell from AEP pole

Telephonepole

PINEVILLE – A telephone lineman blames AEP for injuries he sustained when a pole he was working on broke.

James Galati and his wife Kristin Galati filed their complaint in Wyoming Circuit Court against Appalachian Power Company, American Electric Power Service Corporation, Frontier West Virginia Inc., Frontier Communications Online and Long Distance Inc. and Frontier Communication Services Inc.

Galati says he was working on phone lines for Frontier on Sept. 3, 2014, near Iaeger on Defeat Branch when he when working on a pole owned and maintained by Appalachian Power and AEP. The pole broke, causing him to fall and sustain serious injuries to his legs, ankles and knees. The complaint doesn’t specify the distance Galati fell or the extent of those injuries.

Galati says the defendants should have known the hazardous conditions of the pole that broke, failing to provide him a safe work environment or equipment to make him safe.

He says he has sustained pain and suffering, loss of income, medical expenses, loss of earning capacity and loss of enjoyment of life. His wife sues for loss of consortium.

The Galatis seek compensatory damages, punitive damages, court costs, attorney fees and other relief.

They are being represented by Patrick K. Maroney of Maroney Williams Weaver & Pancake PLLC in Charleston. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Warren McGraw.

Wyoming Circuit Court case number: 15-C-161

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