Dowell v. General Telephone Co.

This Court has been asked to review a judgment entered in favor of plaintiff Richard Dowell, a journeyman lineman, against General Telephone Company of Michigan in the amount of $180,000. Plaintiffs recovery represented damages for personal injuries suffered when he fell approximately 20 feet to the ground from a telephone pole. Although the injuries to plaintiffs leg and to his back were admitted, virtually every other factual incident surrounding plaintiffs accident was disputed.

The injuries to plaintiff occurred on May 10, 1972, at which time he was a member of a three-man crew employed by…