Fitzpatrick v. U S West, Inc.

How courts have described this case

Verbatim parenthetical descriptions written by other courts when citing this decision. Ranked by citation-network relevance.

• noting one acting on behalf of another may do so as agent or independent contractor and applying 10-factor independent contractor test to distinguish between them
• whether public utility was independent contractor or agent of U.S. West when U.S. West hired public utility to reconnect electrical service to a building near an underground vault
• “[a]bsent negligence, we do not even hold power companies engaged in the transmission of high voltage electricity liable for the harm caused those who inadvertently come into contact with electrical lines”
• Connection of electricity to building performed by public utility is not abnormally dangerous or ultrahazardous activity, and employer of public utility as independent contractor will not be held strictly liable for injuries sustained during course of such connection operation.

Source: CourtListener parenthetical corpus (CC0).