Submit your claim details for a free, no obligation case review.
Get Started:
A $6.5 million verdict in the wrongful death case of a 21-year-old Army Private who was accidentally electrocuted during basic training in 2004 was upheld on appeal on Tuesday.
Private Electrocuted
Pvt. Van Ryan Marcum was participating in a training exercise on a firing range in Fort Benning, Ga., when he leaned against an abandoned and insufficiently grounded metal latrine.
The latrine was later found to have a wiring short to a fan and also a faulty circuit breaker. When Marcum leaned on the latrine, “he completed the circuit and became the ground,” the appeals court ruling stated.
Wrongful Death Lawsuit
A private contractor, The Shaw Group, was responsible for the maintenance and repair of the latrine at Fort Benning. Marcum’s family sued the company for wrongful death, and a jury awarded the soldier’s family $6.5 million in damages.
Shaw filed an appeal, claiming it was not responsible for Marcum’s death, but the 8 th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis disagreed and upheld the original verdict.
(Source: The Morning News)
Need a wrongful death lawyer? Contact us today to find an experienced wrongful death attorney near you.
Copyright © 2001 - 2012 Online Lawyer Source
ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT—Thank you for your visit. The content published on this website was not written by medical professionals and should not, at any point, be mistaken for medical advice. Furthermore, the information on this site is intended for educational purposes only and should never interfere with a patient/site visitor and his or her healthcare provider. In addition, viewing the content on this website, requesting additional information, or transmitting information through a contact form should never be considered the formation of an attorney-client relationship. The material published on this site is general and may not apply to your specific circumstances. Every case comes with its own set of unique circumstances; past success discussed on this site does not guarantee future performance. Information found on this website should not be used as incentive to act without seeking counsel from a professional. For more information, please read our disclaimer.