Disney v. Butler County Rural Public Power District

The defendant’s two-wire electric power transmission line (neutral wire 21 feet, 6 inches and hot wire 25 feet, 6 inches in height) crossed plaintiff’s farmyard and driveway. Plaintiff sues for electric-shock-caused personal injuries occurring when a tractor pulling 70-foot irrigation sprinkler arms either contacted or arced with the hot line, throwing plaintiff off the tractor he was pulling the trailer sprinkler equipment with. The district court dismissed the cause primarily on the ground that the plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence as a matter of law. We affirm the judgment of…