Cell Tower News: AT&T wants tower-fall lawsuit thrown out

by Jarad Matula November 5, 2015

written by Jarad Matula November 5, 2015

AT&T claims tower-fall case lacks jurisdiction in request for dismissal

AT&T this week asked a Pennsylvania court to throw out a lawsuit filed by a tower technician who was hurt in a five-story fall. The case pertains to an incident that took place on June 15, 2013, when Thomas Jeglum was working on a tower in Allentown, Pa., doing routine repair and maintenance. A rung on the detachable ladder Jeglum was using to climb the tower gave way, causing him to fall 50 feet.

The resulting injuries were extensive, including a traumatic brain injury, intraventricular and subarachnoid hemorrhages, neurologic damage, pulmonary laceration, and a number of leg, torso and vertebrae fractures. Subsequently, Jeglum sued AT&T in Dallas, AT&T Mobility in Atlanta, B&T Group and B&T Engineering in Tulsa, Okla., and Calvary Temple of Allentown, claiming their negligence and safety violations were responsible for the tragic fall. Jeglum is seeking damages in excess of $50,000 plus various costs.

Rather than argue its role or responsibility in this case, AT&T flatly wants the case thrown out of court claiming that, since AT&T has always been “only a holding company” incorporated in Delaware with headquarters in Dallas, the case lacks both general and specific jurisdiction.

A hearing is set for next Wednesday. More on this story as it develops.

How to make cell towers more energy efficient

On this week’s episode of Cell Tower News, Brian McCrea, national accounts manager for OEMs and distributed antenna systems at Alpha Technologies, talked about the problem of power efficiency in cell towers and offered a few possible solutions.