Barthel v. Wisconsin Electric Power Co.

This is an appeal from an order overruling defendants’ demurrers to two counts of the plaintiffs’ complaint. The demurrers allege failure to state a cause of action. The question raised by the demurrers is whether or not the electric company’s conductors carrying electricity adjacent to the premises where the plaintiff Richard A. Barthel was working, constitute a “place of employment” within the meaning of the safe-place statute.

Appellants, Wisconsin Electric Power Company, The Home Insurance Company, and Midland Insurance Company (“defendants”) appeal from that portion of a July 30, 1974,…