Former Window Washer's Suit Against SDG&E Goes To Jury -Shane Cahill Lost Part Of Arms When Pole He Was Using To Wash Windows Hit 12,000 Volt Power Line: A jury will now decide who is responsible for the accident that left a San Diego man without part of his arms. Closing arguments wrapped up Tuesday afternoon in the case of Shane Cahill. He is suing San Diego Gas and Electric for medical expenses that could range into the millions of dollars.
Cahill's attorney and SDG&E's attorney spoke one final time in front of the jury. "This was not a safe condition," said Cahill's attorney Todd Macaluso. "This was an accident waiting to happen." SDG&E's attorney, William Calders, said, "It's a good story and it reads well, but it isn't supported by the facts." Cahill lost part of his arms four years ago while washing windows on top of a Mission Bay condo. About 12,000 volts of electricity rushed through his body when the metal pole he was using touched an SDG&E power line.
Macaluso said the power company knew those lines were too low and still did nothing to fix them. "They should have met the 25-foot standard and they didn't," said Macaluso. "Ladies and gentlemen, that is negligence." Calders argued it was Cahill who was negligent because Cahill testified he never saw the power lines that were only feet away. "He had 16 opportunities in the three-hour period of time to see electrical lines," said Calders. "How many times did he see the lines? None."
Macaluso said at best his client is only 20 percent responsible for the accident, leaving SDG&E responsible for 80 percent of the injuries that left Cahill with two prosthetic forearms. "I think that's fair," said Macaluso. "I think that's reasonable."
Calders asked the jury to remove compassion from their minds and only focus on the facts. "You can't take concern for Mr. Cahill, who is a very nice gentleman, who has had a serious event, and I will agree to that," said Calders. "But you can't take that into your deliberations." The jury will begin deliberations Wednesday morning.
Macaluso said the power company knew those lines were too low and still did nothing to fix them. "They should have met the 25-foot standard and they didn't," said Macaluso. "Ladies and gentlemen, that is negligence." Calders argued it was Cahill who was negligent because Cahill testified he never saw the power lines that were only feet away. "He had 16 opportunities in the three-hour period of time to see electrical lines," said Calders. "How many times did he see the lines? None."
Macaluso said at best his client is only 20 percent responsible for the accident, leaving SDG&E responsible for 80 percent of the injuries that left Cahill with two prosthetic forearms. "I think that's fair," said Macaluso. "I think that's reasonable."
Calders asked the jury to remove compassion from their minds and only focus on the facts. "You can't take concern for Mr. Cahill, who is a very nice gentleman, who has had a serious event, and I will agree to that," said Calders. "But you can't take that into your deliberations." The jury will begin deliberations Wednesday morning.
Former Window Washer Testifies Against SDG&E: The local window washer who lost part of his arms in an accident testified Monday morning in his lawsuit against San Diego Gas & Electric. Shane Cahill spoke softly as he talked about the moments immediately after 12,000 volts of electricity shot through a metal pole and into his body. "My body just tensing up, tensing," he said. "It seemed to get tighter and tighter. I couldn't move much."
Four years ago, Cahill was cleaning the windows on top of a condo in Mission Bay. He was shocked when his equipment hit a power line. Cahill's attorneys argue that SDG&E's power lines were too close to the condo. Cahill said he could not remember how long it took for someone to come help him. "I was pretty stressed out, so I'm not really sure how long," he said. Cahill lost both of his hands and part of his forearms. Using prosthetics, he demonstrated for his attorney and the jury how the metal window washing pole was set up at the time of the accident.
On cross-examination, SDG&E's attorneys said the power lines were in compliance and tried painting a picture that Cahill himself was negligent. One attorney for SDG&E showed Cahill another version of the same metal pole and asked him what was written on the side of the pole. "Watch for wires," answered Cahill.
The defense also kept track of how many times Cahill walked in and out of the condo without noticing the power poles and power lines next to the condo. "Did you happen to notice that there were electrical lines, or guidelines or communications lines outside of the windows?" a defense attorney asked. "No," answered Cahill. "Never saw them?" asked the attorney. "No, I did not," Cahill said.
The tally got up to 14 times before the judge called it a day. Cahill's attorneys previously argued that those wires should have been at least 25 feet away. They were only 12 feet away from the condo when Cahill touched one with the metal pole. When asked if he thought he was going to die, Cahill said, "I thought I was, yes." Cahill will wrap up his testimony Tuesday morning. He is suing for unspecified damages that could total in the tens of millions of dollars.
Four years ago, Cahill was cleaning the windows on top of a condo in Mission Bay. He was shocked when his equipment hit a power line. Cahill's attorneys argue that SDG&E's power lines were too close to the condo. Cahill said he could not remember how long it took for someone to come help him. "I was pretty stressed out, so I'm not really sure how long," he said. Cahill lost both of his hands and part of his forearms. Using prosthetics, he demonstrated for his attorney and the jury how the metal window washing pole was set up at the time of the accident.
On cross-examination, SDG&E's attorneys said the power lines were in compliance and tried painting a picture that Cahill himself was negligent. One attorney for SDG&E showed Cahill another version of the same metal pole and asked him what was written on the side of the pole. "Watch for wires," answered Cahill.
The defense also kept track of how many times Cahill walked in and out of the condo without noticing the power poles and power lines next to the condo. "Did you happen to notice that there were electrical lines, or guidelines or communications lines outside of the windows?" a defense attorney asked. "No," answered Cahill. "Never saw them?" asked the attorney. "No, I did not," Cahill said.
The tally got up to 14 times before the judge called it a day. Cahill's attorneys previously argued that those wires should have been at least 25 feet away. They were only 12 feet away from the condo when Cahill touched one with the metal pole. When asked if he thought he was going to die, Cahill said, "I thought I was, yes." Cahill will wrap up his testimony Tuesday morning. He is suing for unspecified damages that could total in the tens of millions of dollars.
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