Lawsuit against Army contractor (KBR) upheld

[sabra]

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A federal judge yesterday denied an Army contractor's motion requesting dismissal of a lawsuit filed by the mother of a soldier who was electrocuted in the shower while serving in Iraq.

The lawsuit, filed by Cheryl A. Harris of Cranberry, accuses Houston-based contractor KBR of failing to maintain the electrical infrastructure at the former estate of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad. Ms. Harris' son, Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth, an Army Ranger and Green Beret, was electrocuted as he showered on Jan. 2, 2008, while stationed there.

KBR attorneys had argued that decisions made by the Army insulated the private military contractor from prosecution.

U.S. District Judge Nora Barry Fischer disagreed.

"This case does not involve claims arising from active military combat operations," Judge Fischer said in her 56-page ruling. "The issues presented by (Ms. Harris') claims involve the alleged negligent performance or non-performance of KBR in providing maintenance services to the United States Army."

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09091/959704-84.stm

[Lugnut]

1. K&R for good news. n/t

[dipsydoodle]

2. ditto

n/t

[groundloop]

3. Good...

Kind of sounds like KBR took people off the street corner, handed them tools, and told them to go wire some bathrooms. Proper electrical safety and grounding isn't rocket science. Why the hell couldn't they have used licensed electricians, the work would have been done properly and safely and they'd have avoided all of this. If KBR executives were human they'd be bending over backwards to make amends over this.

[jtrockville]

4. Cheryl Harris is a hero. This can't be easy for her.