Opinion ID: 1250506
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Exclusion of the 1979 ComEd Fatality

Text: L.E. Myers also argues that the magistrate judge improperly excluded evidence of the fatality in 1979 involving a ComEd linesman who accidently came into contact with an energized static wire. This argument needs only brief attention. We review claims of evidentiary error for abuse of discretion, United States v. Thomas, 453 F.3d 838, 844-45 (7th Cir. 2006), which occurs only where no reasonable person could take the view adopted by the trial court, United States v. Cash, 394 F.3d 560, 564 (7th Cir.2005). OSHA investigated the 1979 accident, and notes made by the agency's compliance officer reflect that a recommendation was made that ComEd place warnings on towers with energized static lines for the benefit of its outside contractors. L.E. Myers wanted to introduce this evidence to bolster its argument that energized static wires were not a commonly recognized hazard in 1999. It was not an abuse of discretion to exclude this evidence. The compliance officer's notes do not reflect a formal agreement between OSHA and ComEd to post warnings about energized static wires. Nor do they help to clarify whether energized static wires were a commonly recognized hazard in 1999. The evidence was also potentially misleading; a discussion between OSHA and ComEd about ComEd's safety practices does not relieve L.E. Myers of liability for its own compliance with OSHA regulations. The evidence of the 1979 fatality was properly excluded.