Malvarez v. Georgia Power Company

Smith, Justice.

This is a certified question from the Court of Appeals. The husband of appellant Maria Malvarez was electrocuted while engaged in routine building maintenance when he moved a ladder and contacted high-voltage power lines owned by Georgia Power. Appellant sued for wrongful death, contending that appellee was negligent in placing the lines less than eight feet from the building and in failing to insulate them against the type of accidental contact which occurred.

Georgia Power denies that the lines were within eight feet of the building but contends that if they were, then it is…