Power Line Next to Oil Wells Ends in Electrocution of Two Workers

Austin, TX (Law Firm Newswire) October 31, 2016 – Sharyland Utilities, Quantam Resources Management and Tessco Energy Services face two wrongful death lawsuits for the workplace deaths of Laban Robokoff and Harvey McKinney in 2014.

Laban Robokoff and Harvey McKinney were electrocuted two years ago while working on a Texas oil well. One other colleague was severely shocked, but managed to survive. At the time of their deaths, Laban Robokoff was 26 and McKinney 38.

The oil well was located in Colorado City and was owned by Quantam Resources Management. According to documents submitted in court, the company allegedly placed a power line right next to an oil well, creating a seriously hazardous workplace.

“On the day of their deaths, Robokoff and McKinney were to remove an electric pump from an oil well. It required backing up a truck with a crane in close to the well, feed out a winch line to the pump and lift it,” said Brooks Schuelke, an Austin wrongful death attorney, who is not involved in this case.

According to court documents, power companies normally mandate that all power lines must be at least 10 feet from an oil well. In this case, it is alleged the power lines and oil well were so close together that it was virtually impossible to do the work safely.

“It’s likely the lawsuit will cite employer negligence,” indicated, Austin wrongful death attorney, Brooks Schuelke. “To allege negligence there must be a duty, a breach of that duty and an injury caused by the breach.”

Employer negligence may be proven in four ways:

· Negligent hiring: e.g. must use reasonable care/adequate background check to screen workers
· Negligent retention: e.g. not dealing with unfit workers
· Negligent training: e.g. employer does not use reasonable care training/supervising workers
· Negligent supervision: e.g. employer fails to reasonably control/monitor workers on-the-job actions

“In this case, if the plaintiff’s attorney is able to prove there was negligent supervision and training, it may be decided in favor of the plaintiff,” said Schuelke. “These are difficult cases and if you have been involved in a workplace accident, reach out and connect with an experienced personal injury attorney. You are going to need help to prove your case.”

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