Case Name: Patrick Devers, Respondent, v. Long Island Lighting Company, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Term
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1974-07-19
Citations: 79 Misc. 2d 165
Docket Number: 
Parties: Patrick Devers, Respondent, v. Long Island Lighting Company, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Miscellaneous Reports
Volume: 79
Pages: 165–166

Head Matter:
Patrick Devers, Respondent, v. Long Island Lighting Company, Appellant.
Supreme Court, Appellate Term, Second Department,
July 19, 1974.
Edward M. Barrett (Joseph D. Ahearn of counsel), for appel- ■ lant. Patrick Devers, respondent pro s]e.

Opinion:
Memorandum. Judgment unanimously reversed, without costs, and complaint dismissed.
Since plaintiff failed to prove that defendant was negligent in arriving at an intentional determination to reduce voltage in plaintiff's area, he failed to establish defendant's liability in either contract or tort. The Public Service Commission, in defendant's rate schedule, has approved a limited exemption from liability for ordinary negligence, in the valid exercise of its powers, and since it has not attempted to absolve defendant from gross negligence, such rule is lawful, and not violative of public policy (Newman v. Consolidated Edison Co., 79 Misc 2d 153 [App. Term, 2d Dept.]; " Wazalen " v. Consolidated Edison Co., N. Y. L. J., June 13, 1973, p. 20, col. 3, App. Term, 2d Dept., affd. 43 A D 2d 985).
Hogan, P. J., and Gagliardi, J., concur;
Pittoni, J., concurs, in the following memorandum:
I concur with the majority in voting for reversal on the grounds that they have stated, but I add that even though defendant company reduced its power between 3% and 5%, the evidence failed to show that such reduction was a proximate cause of the damages claimed by plaintiff.