Entergy settles suit alleging line fell on man's vehicle

On the day it was scheduled to go to trial, Entergy Texas opted to settle for $12,000 a suit alleging a power line fell on a vehicle.

As previously reported, plaintiff William Duke sued Entergy in April 2009, alleging that he was parked at a stop sign on July 2, 2007, when an Entergy power line fell on top of his vehicle.

A court official told the Southeast Texas Record that the case was suppose to go to trial on Nov. 28 but the parties reached a settlement of $12,000.

The suit claimed Entergy was negligent by failing to properly maintain the power line, by failing to properly secure the line and by failing to properly service the power line.

Duke was suing for his physical pain and mental suffering, incurred medical expenses and impairment.

On Feb. 7, plaintiff's attorney Thomas Kienhoff, a lawyer for the Beaumont law firm Reaud, Morgan and Quinn, filed a notice of substitution of counsel, requesting that he replace the withdrawing Trenton Bond, who left RMQ to form his own law firm, court records show.

Entergy was represented by Beaumont attorney Christine Kibbe.

Judge Milton Shuffield, 136th District Court, presided over the case.

Case No. D183-699