Stark v. Lancaster Electric Light, Heat & Power Co.

Citations

• 218 Pa. 575
• 67 A. 909
• 1907 Pa. LEXIS 573

Syllabus

<p>Negligence — Electric light company — IAve wire — Safety appliance— Custom — Evidence—Nonsuit.</p> <p>While companies using electricity are held to the highest degree of care practicable and are required to take every reasonable precaution suggested by experience and known dangers, it is not for a jury, without evidence, to set up a standard of care as to a matter not within the range of common knowledge.</p> <p>In an action against an electric light company to recover damages for a death resulting from contact with a telephone wire which had become charged by dropping on to a wire of the defendant company during a storm, the defendant company cannot be charged with negligence in not maintaining a guard or screen above its wire to prevent their contact with the telephone wires in the event of the breaking of the latter, where there is no testimony to show that the erection of guards was a reasonable precaution to avoid accidents, or that it was customary or practicable to maintain them.</p>