Thursday, April 2, 2009

Fed judge upholds Army electrocution lawsuit

Fed judge upholds Army electrocution lawsuit



The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Apr 1, 2009 19:00:45 EDT



http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/04/ap_electrocution_lawsuit_040109/



PITTSBURGH — A federal judge in Pittsburgh refused to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the parents of a Pittsburgh-area soldier who was electrocuted in an Army barracks shower in Iraq last year.

U.S. District Judge Nora Barry Fischer rejected arguments by an electrical contractor, KBR Inc., that it was not responsible for Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth’s death in January 2008.

Army investigators determined a water pump shorted out and electrified water flowed into Maseth’s shower. Maseth is one of 18 people electrocuted in the Iraqi theater whose deaths are being investigated by the military.

Attorneys for KBR said they were disappointed by the decision, which will allow the lawsuit filed in Pittsburgh to go forward.

Maseth was 24 when he died.

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Fed judge upholds Army electrocution lawsuit

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It isn't about the money, it's about justice for the military people that KBR's negligence have killed, they are not above accountability, they got paid to do the job right, they did not, they used poor electricians and bad inspectors and our young men and women have been dying due to their errors. They were well paid to do it right, I hope the jury gives the family the moon. Whatever they give them it will NOT briong back their son, but maybe KBR will get the message, do the job you were paid to do and use qualified people to do it. Otherwise juries will make you pay. I am glad they didn't use "Feres Act" to try and stop this. I don't believe private contractors should be able to use Feres to save themselves from being sued.

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