FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Plaintiff placed in danger of serious injury while attempting to save his dog from an estimated 277 volt fatal shock.

Attorneys with The Animal Law Center of Wheat Ridge, Colorado today filed a civil lawsuit in Denver District Court on behalf of their client, Denver resident Scott Evans. On October 28, 2009, Evans and his dog Asha suffered a severe electrical shock while walking through a parking lot located in the vicinity of 4650 West 38th Avenue in Denver.  As a result of coming into contact with approximately 277 volts of electricity flowing to the lot surface, Asha died of her injuries in transit to a nearby veterinarian’s clinic. Evans was also shocked while trying to rescue his dog and was traumatized watching Asha die an agonizing death.

Gross Negligence

During construction of the parking lot where the electrocution occurred, a contractor drove supporting rebar into the ground near an active underground Excel Energy power line. The metal rebar came in contact with the power cable and conducted electricity to the lot surface, which is covered in loose gravel. The suit alleges that the contractor failed to contact the Utility Notification Center of Colorado, as required by state law, prior to forcing the rebar into the ground.

Lawsuit

“From the outset of this case, we have attempted to resolve this issue without going to court,” said Jennifer Edwards, lawyer and founder of The Animal Law Center. “However, the various contractors have been pointing fingers at each other, leaving us with little recourse other than a lawsuit. In order to prevent such a tragic accident from happening again, we must determine how this situation occurred. The improperly installed rebar placed anyone at risk. In this case it was Asha and our client Mr. Evans.”

Defendants:

SABELL’S ENTERPRISES LLLP

PALACE CONSTRUCTION CO., INC.

PIPER ELECTRIC CO., INC.

XCEL ENERGY

About The Animal Law Center:  The Animal Law Center provides an array of legal services for animal owners and guardians.  We are the only dedicated animal law practice in Colorado and are one of the few firms in the United States that practice animal-related law on a full time basis.  While individual members of The Animal Law Center hold political and ethical beliefs related to animals, the ALC considers ALL cases, regardless of a potential client’s political and ethical views. The ALC is a firm that practices law as it pertains to animals, not necessarily animal-rights law. For more information: www.theanimallawcenter.com