Verizon sues area plumbing companies for damage to underground facilities

A telecommunications firm is suing two local plumbing companies for allegedly causing damage to the plaintiff’s property after the defendants’ employees shot a trenching missile across a city roadway and struck the plaintiff’s underground facilities.

In its property damage complaint, filed May 3 at the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas by Philadelphia attorney Andrew L. Salvatore, Verizon Pennsylvania Inc. accuses Elkins Park, Pa.-based Star Plumbing and Heating Inc. and Chalfont, Pa.-based J.S. Plumbing Company of negligence for sending the trenching missile across Bustleton Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia and striking the plaintiff’s underground equipment.

The alleged incident occurred on May 8, 2010.

The lawsuit accuses the defendants of performing excavation, repair and construction work without first ascertaining whether Verizon’s underground cables, wires, conduit and telecommunication facilities were present in the area; failing to properly examine the worksite prior to commencing their work; failing to adequately control and supervise the work so as to ensure that utility facilities, such as those belonging to Verizon, would not be damaged; handling tools, machinery and implements in an unskillful and un-workmanlike manner; failing to notify the Pennsylvania One Call System of their intent to perform work as required by the state’s One Call Statute; failing to protect and preserve any marking or other designations made by Verizon so as to ensure that any excavation would not interfere or cause damage to Verizon’s underground facilities; and negligently hiring an operator to perform the excavation work.

The lawsuit claims that Verizon sustained $26,354.14 in damages due to the incident.

The telecommunications company looks to be compensated for the costs of the repairs. It also seeks attorney’s fees and other equitable relief.

 

The case ID number is 120403983.