Los Angeles, CA personal injury attorney Thomas Johnston talks about a case he worked on involving a man who was crushed in his car due to a rotting power pole. He recalls the Reyes v. Department of Water and Power case, a tragic matter involving a young man with a driver’s permit who crashed into a power pole. The collision itself was not severe, but the pole was termite-infested and rotting. When it splintered, the power apparatus atop the pole fell, crushing him inside his truck.

The case was critically important because it required uncovering why the pole was in such a dangerous condition and what the Department of Water and Power knew about it. Through careful investigation, they were able to determine the cause and hold the responsible parties accountable, ultimately bringing a measure of justice to the family.