No Pay-Out For Window Cleaner

Jury: "SDG&E Not Liable For Window Washer's Injuries" - Jurors Wednesday ruled against a local man who sued San Diego Gas & Electric after losing parts of his arms in an accident. Shane Cahill was severely injured in 2008 while washing windows on top of a Mission Bay condominium. About 12,000 volts of electricity rushed through his body when the metal pole he was using touched an SDG&E power line. Cahill sued the utility for medical expenses that could range into the millions of dollars. After a nearly three-week trial, the jury sided with the utility, voting 10-2 that the company was not liable for Cahill's injuries. "This was not a safe condition," Cahill's attorney, Todd Macaluso, said Tuesday in closing arguments. "This was an accident waiting to happen." SDG&E's attorney, William Calders, countered, "It's a good story and it reads well, but it isn't supported by the facts."

Macaluso said the power company knew those lines were too low and still did nothing to fix them. He added the company did not meet a certain standard and called it "negligence." Calders argued Cahill was negligent because Cahill himself testified he never saw the power lines that were only feet away. 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.

SDG&E issued the following statement Wednesday afternoon regarding the verdict: What happened to Mr. Cahill is a tragedy. SDG&E is deeply sympathetic for the injuries he suffered as a result of contact with our facilities. We appreciate the jury's thoughtful and thorough review of the facts and their conclusion that SDG&E was not negligent and that what happened to Mr. Cahill was an accident.

SDG&E cleared in window cleaner accident - A jury cleared San Diego Gas & Electric Co. of any liability in the case of a window washer who lost both arms in an electrocution accident in 2008, the worker's attorney said Wednesday. Shane Cahill was shocked by 12,000 volts while he cleaned windows at a Mission Bay condominium. He lost both of his arms and faces medical bills that could run into the millions of dollars, said his attorney, Carlsbad-based Todd Macaluso. In 2009, Cahill sued the utility for medical expenses.  Macaluso said he had great respect for the jury. "We believe the law needs to be changed," Macaluso said in a written statement. "What happened to Mr. Cahill is a tragedy," SDG&E said in a written statement. "SDG&E is deeply sympathetic for the injuries he suffered as a result of contact with our facilities. We appreciate the jury's thoughtful and thorough review of the facts and their conclusion that SDG&E was not negligent and that what happened to Mr. Cahill was an accident."