Family sues over teacher’s death by falling power pole in Wagener
WAGENER, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - The family of the Wagener-Salley High School teacher has filed a lawsuit over her death when a power pole fell after an accident in August.
The family of 31-year-old Jeunelle Robinson held a news conference Monday in Bamberg to announce the lawsuit against Dominion Energy, Comporium, and PBT Telecom.
“It’s no longer fair to allow a family and a community to be victimized and we have decided to fight back,” said Attorney Justin Bamberg.
They’re fighting back with a 113 page lawsuit, alleging the condition of the poles and power lines in Wagener played a large part in Robinson’s death. The lawsuit says the pole was more than 70 years old.
Now they’re asking both companies to take ability.
“Comporium says, not our poles not our responsiblity. We don’t buy that. Not for one second,” said Bamberg.
EARLIER NEWS 12 COVERAGE:
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In an email from the Wagener town clerk addressing some concerns about the poles, the suit says in response Dominion told the town it was “not Dominion’s problem to fix.”
Documents show this happened just weeks before Robinson’s death.
“Five weeks before Ms. Robinson was stolen from her family and an entire community who loved her,” said Bamberg.
When the incident first happened, the family asked for a little more than $100 million in compensation.
Now, they say $100 million is the minimum they’ll accept for the loss of Robinson.
“We’re pushing for the sky,” said Bamberg.
The next steps with the lawsuit are to serve it to the defendants and then prepare for a trial.
On Aug. 16, 2023, the tragedy left the town in shock.
The social studies teacher was walking south on Main Street when a northbound tractor-trailer struck overhead power lines, causing a power pole to fall on her, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
Robinson tried to get out of the way but couldn’t.
The mayor and locals say law enforcement and emergency responders did everything they could.
The lawsuit says the defendants had a duty to maintain their infrastructure in safe, proper order and condition so the risk of harm to innocent bystanders was minimized or alleviated, and to ensure that all staff, employees, agents and representatives were adequately and properly trained, supervised, evaluated and monitored.
The lawsuit includes several photos of utility poles and other equipment that the defendants say show “decrepit infrastructure in Wagener that is dangerous to the public, abandoned, well outside its safe and effective operational life, and needs replacement or removal.”
Here are some of the examples included in the lawsuit:
“Dominion Energy did not own the telecommunications pole that struck Jeunelle Robinson. We extend our deepest condolences to her family,” said Dominion Energy in a statement.
The lawsuit says the damages and injuries suffered by the plaintiff are a result of the defendants’ “negligent, careless, reckless, grossly negligent, willful, and wanton conduct.”
The lawsuit seeks actual and punitive damages as determined by a jury.
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