Tanksley v. Alabama Gas Corp.

These appeals involve a question of whether Alabama Gas Corporation was acting as an owner or as a prime contractor at the time when there was a ditch cave-in on a pipeline project that resulted in the death and personal injuries of Travis and Randy Tanksley respectively. The appeals are from two judgments based upon jury verdicts rendered in favor of Alabama Gas Corporation and its inspector, Austin Smith.

The primary issue presented is stated by the plaintiffs as follows:

"Did the trial court commit error in ruling that there was no prime contractor-subcontractor relationship between Alabama…