Burke v. Illinois Power Co.

On July 20,1970, plaintiff Kevin Burke sustained crippling injuries when the boom of a crane under which he was working contacted live overhead electrical wires. Plaintiff was employed at the time as a laborer for the Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago (hereinafter “the sanitary district.”) Plaintiff sued to recover damages for the injuries against three defendants: Illinois Power Company (hereinafter “the power company”), which owned and maintained the power lines on a negligence theory; FMC Corporation, the crane manufacturer on a strict products liability theory; and Libby-O…