$109 million personal-injury award in Western Pennsylvania offers insight into tort system
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When Carrie Goretzka's two young girls ran out onto the porch of their suburban home 30 miles east of Pittsburgh in the late afternoon on June 2, 2009, what they saw was a scene of unrelenting horror.
»Read story: $109 million personal-injury award in Western Pennsylvania offers insight into tort system
»Read story: $109 million personal-injury award in Western Pennsylvania offers insight into tort system
Comments (100)
- It's always tricky to come up with the right words when you're trying to think of something to say to a little child who's crying because her mother's on fire.Who would have that all would be well with that child if you just took a moment to explain that her mommy was a moron? (HTML deleted)
How much of that verdict did the Goretzka family actually receive?— Temple Mad- iodine: Your right it was a preventable death. People with brains would of stayed inside their house, far away from a downed power line and called the power company from inside their house.— Larry Cheswald
- Disagree with POF "These corporate types only feel financial punishment,..."
Only with prison time for an executive will corps. feel pain.
It appears there's negligence, but I'm not sure about jailtime here.— ald - I agree there. Unless there's proof that the CEO mandated that crappy work be done, there's nothing criminal. Not to mention that the CEO probably has nothing to do with people who would have fixed the line. — PotteryPete
- unless she is an NFL QB, no way is she worth 100M— ekw555
- If that was your wife or mother would you think the same? Especially when she suffered for 3 days? — Niko
- That's really a twisted logic. Someone's life is only worth more if they're high earners? This had nothing to do with her earning potential. She was shocked for 20 minutes and languished for 3 days. She suffered big time. — PotteryPete
- To lose your wife and have one of her children literally watch her burning alive and then hearfing people say that ammount is insane, you are are sick in the head. There is no ammount given that will lessen their pain and suffering, not to mention the mother lived for 3 days with 85% of her burnt. Big companies getting rich off the little guy should be held more acountable and this will give them all fair warning to do a better job! I will bet everyone complaining this is too much would sing a different tune if it was their loved one. Hypocrits!— PhillyTaz
- Obviously, the woman shouldn't have gone near the downed line. However, this power line was faulty and the company was called out at least twice before and failed to do its job. The company has had knowledge of a problem with wires installed improperly but has done nothing.— lulu
- You do not get punitive damages for "carelessness." A plaintiff must prove intentional conduct. And by the way, author, there are guidelines regarding punitive awards. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on such awards in the Exxon Valdez case. Look it up.— Philly Born
- I totally feel for the family, but when I saw this verdict...thought the amount was astonishing. There are a growing number of these crazy awards. Wonder if our overpaid and bloated legislature will fix it? Doubt it.— thepaguy
- the true sham here is the overwhelming amount of money the family lawyers walk away with because it was them who convinced the family to seek such an unprecedented injury award for the sole benefit of packing their own pockets.— theeducator
- PhillyTaz: My loved ones would have enough sense not to go anywhere near a downed power line. The only award this family deserves is the Darwin Award.— Larry Cheswald
- some of these comment's really show phillys education is below third world status— bigtom blew3
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