Pennsylvania Family Awarded $109 Million in Wrongful Death Case

In an unprecedented judgment in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, a local family was awarded $109 million in a wrongful death accident case that killed 39 year old Carrie Goretzka. The mother of two was tragically killed in June of 2009 after a spliced power line fell onto her, causing serious burns and electrocution. After a three day fight for her life in a local hospital, she was pronounced dead, leaving behind her husband Michael and two young daughters, ages 4 and 2.

The downed power line was owned by the West Penn Power Company, which was sued by the Goretzka family, who argued that the workers who were operating on the line at the time of the accident were improperly trained and unable to safely handle the situation. Carrie had reportedly made her way into her front yard to make a cell phone call after seeing a tree catch fire as a result of an overheated line that cut power to her house. While standing in the yard, the line fell on her, inflicting fatal damage while her daughters and mother in law watched from inside the house.

The trail lasted for three weeks, though only 90 minutes were needed for the jurors to reach a conclusion. Emotion was clearly visible from the jurors, many of whom even hugged Carrie’s husband as they left the courtroom. Representatives from West Penn Power tried to argue that the woman put herself in harm’s way by standing underneath the damaged power line, though the family’s attorney countered that it is was deeply offensive and reprehensible for the power company to try to place the blame on the victim of the accident.

The ruling, the largest in county history, which also included $61 million in punitive damages on top of the $109 million, was said to represent a message to the power company that it was not acceptable to put employees to work without adequate training. When dealing with something that has such a strong potential to inflict damages when mishandled, it is essentially important to employ workers who have the know-how to avoid danger. At this time it is unclear if West Penn Power will appeal the ruling.

For families like the Goretzkas who have lost a family member as a result of the negligence of others, dealing with the aftermath can be an impossible task. On top of the emotional pain inflicted from this loss of life, there is also a substantial financial impact, which can often be outside the family’s ability to afford without help. Fortunately, there are legal protections in place to get what they need. Through the help of an experienced wrongful death lawyer, compensation can be recovered to help families back onto their feet after a tragic accident. No amount of compensation can cover the loss of a family member, but the financial assistance, like the sum awarded to the Goretzka family can be the difference between life long suffering and the chance to continue on into the future.