Curtis E. Falany, LLC

Forensic Electrical Engineer

Examples of Cases

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Injury or death from an electrical contact (electrification or electrocution.)

An electrician contacted an energized bathroom vent fan while working in an attic.

An electrician contacted energized conductors while working in an energized electrical junction box.

Several electricians working on an outdoor sign contacted an overhead electric utility power line while moving a scaffolding.

Electrician in a mall contacted energized electrical busbar while working in a indoor substation.

Handyman working 'hot' contacted energized conductors while changing a ballast in a fluorescent light fixture.

An air compressor was energized when the ground faulted to a phase conductor and a service technician contacted the compressor case while cleaning it.

Grove worker contacted overhead electric utility power line with ladder while picking fruit.

Homeowner contacted overhead electric utility power line with picker pole while picking fruit.

Tree trimmer caused palm frond to contact overhead electric utility power line while trimming palm tree.

Roofer contacted overhead electric utility power line while installing edge metal.

Roofer contacted overhead electric utility power line while installing metal roofing.

Handyman opened energized meter bank and was injured in a subsequent explosion.

Damage to underground UF cable by landscape rebar faulted ground to phase and energized a metal boat lift. Swimmers subsequently contacted boat lift.

Worker injured when building in the process of being moved touched overhead power line.

Worker on ground for overhead crane setting precast roofing material was injured while measuring to see if clearances to overhead power line met OSHA regulations.

Construction worker dug into underground power line while digging a trench.

Construction screw, nail, or staple penetrating electrical wiring inside wall energized wall, sliding door, metal stud framing, etc.

Difference in electrical codes between the US and China resulted in the incorrect wiring of a replacement motor resulting in the motor's case being energized and a worker touched the case.

Property damage and loss from fires or explosions of electrical cause or origin.

Wiring error in feeder to chiller plant caused explosion and fire in electrical service entrance of a regional mall.

Attempts to close an 800 amp circuit breaker in hospital switchgear utilizing a section of conduit resulted in the failure of the circuit breaker and a fire in the switchgear.

Equipment failure caused a fire and explosion in the service entrance of an automobile dealership.

Water intrusion into a bus duct, resulting from improper installation, caused a fault and fire in the bus duct and damage to the electrical service in a high rise condominium.

Poor workmanship in the installation of a bus duct caused an explosion and fire injuring workers and destroying the bus duct.

Equipment damage in a hospital subsequent to a electric utility outage.

Damage to overhead power lines and truck when raised dump body contacted overhead power line.

Drywall screw penetrated electrical wiring (romex or nm cable) in residence resulting in fire which destroyed residence.

Injury, death, property damage, or loss of income resulting from a lightning strike

Injury to maintenance worker on dragline.

Residential fires.

Telephone, network, or computer system damage.

Loss or damage to a radio broadcast tower, antenna, transmitter, or equipment several.

Loss or damage to 911 or first responder (police, fire, emergency medical services (EMS,) or ambulance) tower, antenna, transmitter, or equipment several.

Miscelaneous injury, death, property damage or economic loss.

Cell tower fire (several.)

Accidents including falling towers and dropped antennas or auxiliary equipment (several.)

Commercial radio or television broadcast communication antenna, feedline, transmitter, studio equipment, or auxiliary equipment failure (several.)

Contractor or employee injured when battery exploded while servicing emergency diesel fire pump.

Freezing temperatures exposed a programming error in a building management system. The HVAC system failed allowing a multi-story medical building to freeze.

Arson blamed on electrical wiring or equipment failure.

Issues involving the interpretation of the National Electic Code (NEC) or Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) rules.

Issues involving the usual and customary practices of electrical or communications workers.