Alexander v. Nanticoke Light Co.

Citations

• 209 Pa. 571
• 58 A. 1068
• 1904 Pa. LEXIS 675

Syllabus

<p>Negligence—Electricity—Electric light company—Standard of care—Evi-! dence—Presumption.</p> <p>Where a person on his own premises handles an electric lamp furnished to him by an electric light company for the very purpose of being handled as a means of getting light, the high standard of duty required of the company is that it must, in the operation of its plant, protect its patrons from the perilous current which is the basis of its business b'y doing all that human care, skill and vigilance can suggest.</p> <p>Where a patron of an electric light company without knowledge that the wires on his premises are charged with a higher voltage than is safe, takes into his hand an electrical lamp and is severely shocked and injured, the presumption is that the company was negligent and the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur applies.</p>