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Shaffer v. Georgia Power Company

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Feb 5, 1973
195 S.E.2d 758 (Ga. Ct. App. 1973)

Opinion

47849.

ARGUED JANUARY 8, 1973.

DECIDED FEBRUARY 5, 1973.

Action for damages. Fulton Superior Court. Before Judge Shaw.

Saul Blau, for appellant.

Troutman, Sanders, Lockerman Ashmore, Jeffrey R. Nickerson, for appellee.


Plaintiff in a suit for damages appeals from the summary judgment for one of the defendants, Georgia Power Company. The wrongful act alleged was the suspension of electrical service to several of the plaintiff's properties.

The power company's motion for summary judgment was based on three grounds of legal justification for its act: (1) its own Rules and Regulations on file with the Public Service Commission which allow it to suspend service to any customer whose wiring or equipment does not meet specified safety standards; (2) an ordinance of the City of Atlanta giving the Superintendent of Electrical Affairs the authority to order current discontinued when he finds wiring or equipment unsafe. In this case the power company had acted upon such written instructions from the office of the superintendent; (3) the potential civil liability of the power company for continuing to furnish current when it has knowledge of a customer's dangerous or defective wiring or equipment.

The court did not err in granting summary judgment. Elwell v. Atlanta Gas Light Co., 51 Ga. App. 919 ( 181 S.E. 599); Ga. Public Service Comm. v. Atlanta Gas Light Co., 205 Ga. 863 ( 55 S.E.2d 618); Electric Code of the City of Atlanta § 33 and 34; Hatcher v. Georgia Power Co., 40 Ga. App. 830 ( 151 S.E. 696). For similar cases and results in other jurisdictions, see Carroway v. Carolina Power c. Co., 226 S.C. 204 ( 84 S.E.2d 728) and Windsor Hotel Co. v. Central Maine Power Co. (Me.), 250 A.2d 194.

Judgment affirmed. Evans and Clark, JJ., concur.


ARGUED JANUARY 8, 1973 — DECIDED FEBRUARY 5, 1973.


Summaries of

Shaffer v. Georgia Power Company

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Feb 5, 1973
195 S.E.2d 758 (Ga. Ct. App. 1973)
Case details for

Shaffer v. Georgia Power Company

Case Details

Full title:SHAFFER v. GEORGIA POWER COMPANY

Court:Court of Appeals of Georgia

Date published: Feb 5, 1973

Citations

195 S.E.2d 758 (Ga. Ct. App. 1973)
195 S.E.2d 758

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