Linnear v. Centerpoint Energy Entex/Reliant Energy

hThe plaintiffs, Dronzy and Charles Lin-near, sued for damages after Mrs. Linnear fell in her yard in an area where the defendant, CenterPoint Energy Arkla (“CenterPoint”), had recently placed a new gas line. The Linnears alleged that Cen-terPoint’s failure to restore the property to its pre-repair condition caused the accident. A jury found no fault on the part of CenterPoint, and the trial court denied motions for a new trial and a judgment notwithstanding the verdict (“JNOV”). The Linnears appealed. Finding legal error in the trial court’s failure to include an instruction on res ipsa…