An employee of a Philadelphia Buddhist Temple who claims he suffered electrical burns after being shocked by a loose utility wire at the premises has filed a personal injury lawsuit against his employer in state court.
Jenkintown, Pa. attorneys Marc A. Weinberg and Richard A. Wolfe, of the firm Saffren & Weinberg, filed the civil action June 7 at the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas on behalf of Michael Lee Patterson.
The defendant named in the suit is the Wat Lao Phouthathammaram Lao Buddhist Temple, which is located at 1104 S. 20th St. in Philadelphia.
According to the complaint, Patterson, while working at the Temple back on Sept. 14, 2010, came into contact with a “defective, loose, exposed and unsecure” electrical line on the premises.
As a result of the incident, Patterson suffered electrical burns and shock that required medical treatment.
Patterson’s injuries included second and third-degree burns to his face, head, neck, torso and extremities, the lawsuit states.
He also suffered internal organ damage, nervous shock, emotional distress and other ills and injuries, all of which have caused him great pain and suffering, and have prevented him from attending to his regular duties and occupations, the lawsuit states.
Patterson, who also suffered scarring from the event, accuses the Buddhist Temple of negligence for permitting a dangerous and defective power line to exist at the defendant’s location, failing to warn the plaintiff and the public at large of the hazardous condition, failing to have the dangerous condition corrected, failing to properly supervise and instruct its employees in the care and maintenance of its buildings and appurtenant structures and failing to notify the utility company that people would be working near the power lines.
The lawsuit claims that Patterson incurred out-of-pocket expenses relating to the medical treatment of his injuries.
Patterson seeks damages in excess of $50,000, plus interest, litigation costs and other court relief.
The case ID number is 120600876.
Employee sues Buddhist Temple over electrical burns suffered from loose power line
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