FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PHILADELPHIA, PA—The parents of Michael Savage, Jr. filed a lawsuit today against the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades arising from the death of their 18 year-old son, Michael Savage, Jr., on October 9, 2009. Michael was a first year student at Williamson who was killed when he was electrocuted in the Williamson Power Plant. The lawsuit alleges that Michael was not properly trained or supervised and was directed by a Williamson teacher to work with an energized commercial light fixture manufactured by General Electric Company. The Complaint alleges that Williamson was not properly staffed with trained faculty and that Williamson lacked fundamental safety equipment, including electrical testing equipment, safety gloves and tools. The Savage family’s lawsuit seeks punitive damages against Williamson based upon allegations that Williamson was willful, wanton, and reckless by directing a new student to work with an energized light fixture while he was unsupervised and without adequate training and safety equipment.
The Savage family also alleges that Williamson failed to provide fundamental first-aid training to its students and faculty. The lawsuit alleges that Williamson failed to render first aid to Michael once he had been electrocuted which contributed to his death. The Savage family also alleges that the school did not have defibrillators available, which were necessary to render proper first aid to Michael who had been electrocuted.
The lawsuit seeks economic damages from Williamson in the form of Michael Savage, Jr.’s lost earning capacity. The lawsuit also seeks damages under Pennsylvania’s Wrongful Death and Survival Acts for Michael’s horrific pain and suffering that resulted from his electrocution.
The lawsuit alleges that Williamson has never provided the Savage family with any answers regarding how their son’s death occurred. The lawsuit also alleges that Williamson failed to properly investigate the cause of Michael Savage, Jr.’s death. The lawsuit alleges that the unsafe practices, procedures, and policies that resulted in Michael Savage, Jr.’s death still prevail at the Williamson Trade School.
The case was filed in Philadelphia County, and the Savage family is represented by Thomas W. Sheridan, Esquire of the Philadelphia law firm Sheridan & Murray, LLC. General Electric was also named in the lawsuit as a defendant. General Electric manufactured the light fixture involved in the electrocution of Michael Savage.
About Sheridan & Murray – A Philadelphia personal injury law firm that represents victims who have suffered catastrophic injuries including medical malpractice, construction accidents, wrongful death, insurance coverage disputes, car accidents and product liability. The firm has successfully received million- and multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of their clients. To learn more about the Philadelphia injury lawyers that comprise Sheridan & Murray, visit www.SheridanAndMurray.com.
