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1st Lawsuit re: Largest Energy Blackout in History
Yahoo! Finance | Monday August 18 | staff writer

Posted on 08/19/2003 10:31:10 AM PDT by yankeedame

Cauley Geller Announces Class Action Lawsuit Against FirstEnergy Corporation In Connection With the Largest Energy Blackout in History

Monday August 18, 5:08 pm ET

NEW YORK, Aug. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The law firm of Cauley Geller Bowman & Rudman, LLP announced today that it has filed a class action lawsuit in the Court of Common Pleas in Cuyahoga County, Ohio on behalf of all persons and entities residing in the United States who lost electrical power during the massive energy blackout that began on August 14, 2003.

A copy of the complaint filed in this action is available from the Court, or can be viewed on the firm's website at http://www.cauleygeller.com .

The complaint charges FirstEnergy Corporation (NYSE: FE - News; "FirstEnergy") with recklessly causing the power outage that began on August 14, 2003 and darkened parts of eight American states and Canada.

More specifically, the complaint alleges, among other things, that FirstEnergy, in reckless disregard of industry practice:

- (1) failed to have a functioning alarm that could have timely alerted controllers to trouble with its power lines;

- (2) failed to cut back tree limbs that came into contact with power lines, which resulted in the tripping of the power lines; and

- (3) failed to maintain a failsafe system that could have separated the local system from the rest of the power grid.

The Complaint seeks actual damages for injuries suffered by the public as well as punitive damages to ensure that FirstEnergy never again engages in similar misconduct.

If you have any questions about how you may be able to recover for your losses, you are encouraged to call or e-mail the Firm or visit the Firm's website at http://www.cauleygeller.com .

Cauley Geller is a national law firm that is one of the country's premiere firms that practices in the area of class action litigation, with in-house finance and forensic investigative specialists and extensive trial experience.

Since its founding, Cauley Geller has recovered billions of dollars on behalf of aggrieved class members. The firm maintains offices in Boca Raton, Little Rock and New York.

Contact:

CAULEY GELLER BOWMAN & RUDMAN, LLP

Robert M. Rothman, Esq. or Samuel H. Rudman, Esq.

Client Relations Department:
Jackie Addison or Heather Gann
P.O. Box 25438
Little Rock, AR 72221-5438
Toll Free: 1-888-551-9944
Fax: 1-501-312-8505
E-mail: info@cauleygeller.com

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Source: Cauley Geller Bowman & Rudman, LLP


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: Ohio
KEYWORDS: blackout; firstenergy; lawsuit; response
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I'm not sure if this is a news story or an advertisement for Cauley, Geller, Bowman & Pudman, LLP
1 posted on 08/19/2003 10:31:11 AM PDT by yankeedame
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To: yankeedame
The DNC is behind this - bet on it...
2 posted on 08/19/2003 10:32:24 AM PDT by Chad Fairbanks (The wages of sin are death, but by the time FICA and SSI are taken, it's just sorta tired feeling)
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To: yankeedame
Well its a garbage lawsuit, we have not even determined
what the cause was must lest whether any power company
was guilty of negligence.

This is disgracefull.
3 posted on 08/19/2003 10:33:24 AM PDT by Princeliberty
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To: yankeedame
I'm not sure if this is a news story or an advertisement for Cauley, Geller, Bowman & Pudman, LLP

This is a standard press release from a law firm. You see them too when they sue large corporations for some dip in the stock price or whatever excuse they can dredge up.

Class Action = Trash Action---Attorneys get $30 million, "plaintiffs" $1.98 each.

4 posted on 08/19/2003 10:36:30 AM PDT by DeFault User
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To: Chad Fairbanks
If this kind of "class action" lawsuit is treated seriously it won't be possible to do business as a utility in this country IMO. Not only that, such parasitic behavior by law firms simply drives up the cost of providing energy to consumers, nothing else. Pretty sickening.
5 posted on 08/19/2003 10:40:24 AM PDT by toddst
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To: yankeedame
It is rather interesting to see hyenas issuing a press release as they gather around a piece of carrion. WE NEED TORT REFORM to put a stop to "government of the lawyers, by the lawyers and for the lawyers."

This IS an advertisement for this law firm. Between the lines it says, "We are jackals, and we're d*mned proud of it." That would be truth in advertising.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column, "Texans for Sale or Rent" posted on FR, and run on ChronWatch today (Tuesday).

6 posted on 08/19/2003 10:42:59 AM PDT by Congressman Billybob ("Don't just stand there. Run for Congress." www.ArmorforCongress.com)
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To: yankeedame
Here's a reason to support "tort" reform if I ever saw one!
7 posted on 08/19/2003 10:45:46 AM PDT by NavyCaptain
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To: yankeedame
Who do you dislike more: The utilities or lawyers?

I'm undecided on this lawsuit.

8 posted on 08/19/2003 10:49:09 AM PDT by stainlessbanner (If you don't live in Dixie, you're just Camping Out)
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To: Chad Fairbanks
It is a Little Rock, AR firm, so your assertion about the DNC is not too far-fetched.
9 posted on 08/19/2003 10:52:13 AM PDT by TexasNative2000 (The joy of the Lord is my strength.)
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To: meyer
bump
10 posted on 08/19/2003 10:55:40 AM PDT by snopercod
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To: Princeliberty
Well its a garbage lawsuit, we have not even determined what the cause was must lest whether any power company was guilty of negligence.

IMHO, we never will know the root cause of this power failure.
The companies will engage in CYA and fingerpointing precisely because of BS lawsuits like this.
Tort reform may help somewhat, but you'll still encounter the beancounter tendency to place short-term profits ahead of long term infrastructure investment. The regulated public utility model served our nation quite well for many, many decades. And the stocks of those utilities were considered solid, blue-chip investments, suitable for "widows and children". I'm inclined to believe that we should return to that model. I've seen little public benefit to deregulation, only fiascos like Enron.

11 posted on 08/19/2003 11:01:15 AM PDT by Willie Green (Go Pat Go!!!)
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To: yankeedame
"Ambulance chasers" coming out of the woodwork like cockroaches.
12 posted on 08/19/2003 11:07:38 AM PDT by lilylangtree
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To: Princeliberty
That's never stopped the plaintiff's bar before. They'd wade hip deep in horse sh*t to file a nuisance suit.
13 posted on 08/19/2003 11:38:10 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: lilylangtree
Toll Free: 1-888-551-9944

You might want to share your thoughts with them. I called & asked if they had the number for the Bar Association, as I wanted to file an ethics complaint. Surprisingly, they didn't seem to have that information. I nicely asked the paralegal to pass on to the powers that be that this confirmed my opinion of lawyers as sleazebags.

14 posted on 08/19/2003 11:52:40 AM PDT by talleyman (What's the diff. between a porcupine & a BMW full of lawyers? Porcupine has pricks on the outside.)
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To: yankeedame
(Writing from beautiful Spain.. a country with 2 air-conditioners.. one of which is in the Internet Cafe I am now relaxing in)

Do I get to sue the democrat party politicians and judges who closed a perfectly safe nuclear reactor on Long Island? ... AFTER 4 BILLION DOLLARS WERE SPENT DAYS BEFORE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO OPEN!!!

And there is a massive fully completed power line under Long Island Sound from New England to bring power from HydroQuebec UNABLE TO BE USED DUE TO THESE SAME DEMOCRATS!!!

15 posted on 08/19/2003 12:20:07 PM PDT by friendly ((Badges?, we don gots to show no stinkin' badges!))
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To: friendly
Can we file a "No Class" action suit against lawyers in general?
16 posted on 08/19/2003 12:24:30 PM PDT by talleyman (E=mc2 (before taxes))
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To: talleyman
My home state of Texas just passed a major shyster reform legislation (Bush legacy alert) mandating that class action lawyers and consumers get paid in the exact same ratio of worthless coupons to cold cash.

LOL I love this!!!

17 posted on 08/19/2003 12:46:49 PM PDT by friendly ((Badges?, we don gots to show no stinkin' badges!))
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To: Princeliberty
The lawyers as usual will make billions, the people who lost power will get a coupon for squishy at 7-11. Class action lawsuits are legal theft.
18 posted on 08/19/2003 12:49:07 PM PDT by Kozak (" No mans life liberty or property is safe when the legislature is in session." Mark Twain)
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To: yankeedame
Damn..... I felt sure it would be Larry Claymer and his Watch......... LOL. Maybe he'll file and FOIA request on just what happened.... That's about all he does.
19 posted on 08/19/2003 12:49:23 PM PDT by deport ( Hot out today.... don't kick a cow chip, it might be mushy)
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To: Miss Marple; Howlin; PhiKapMom
I meant to include you in to section of #19 above
20 posted on 08/19/2003 12:51:02 PM PDT by deport ( Hot out today.... don't kick a cow chip, it might be mushy)
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