Massive Wrongful Death Settlement Exposes Failing Infrastructure and Public Safety Problems

In a landmark ruling, a family received a $30 million settlement for the death of a woman caused by a fallen utility pole.

At a Glance

The family of Jeunelle Robinson, a South Carolina woman killed by a falling utility pole, will receive $30 million in a wrongful death settlement.
Dominion Energy and Comporium, the companies involved, agreed to the settlement.
The incident occurred when a truck snagged a drooping line, causing the pole to break and strike Robinson.
The settlement avoids a court trial, sparing the family from reliving the tragedy.

A Tragic Incident Unfolds

The family of Jeunelle Robinson, a beloved social studies teacher at Wagener-Salley High School in South Carolina, has been awarded $30 million in a landmark wrongful death settlement. Jeunelle was fatally struck by a utility pole after a truck snagged a drooping telephone line, causing the pole to break and launch towards her.

Robinson, aged 31, was captured on surveillance video attempting to dodge the pole moments before the tragic impact. The incident occurred in downtown Wagener last August, causing a ripple of grief throughout the community. Jeunelle’s dedication to her students and her love for teaching have been recalled by many who knew her.

Company Accountability and the Settlement

Dominion Energy and Comporium, two prominent utility companies, agreed to the $30 million settlement to avoid a dragged-out court trial. This resolution spares Robinson’s family from the emotional turmoil of reliving the incident in a courtroom. The exact financial contributions of each company to the settlement remain undisclosed.

The fallen utility pole was found to be over 60 years old, with no recent records or maintenance markings. Dominion Energy had previously announced plans to replace old equipment in Wagener, but those replacements were not acted upon soon enough to prevent this tragedy.

A Call for Improved Infrastructure

“We appreciate the leadership of Dominion and Comporium for working with us to ensure Jeunelle’s family would not have to relive this tragedy in court unnecessarily,” the family’s lawyer, Justin Bamberg, remarked. The sentiments of Bamberg and the tragic incident underscore the pressing need for rigorous maintenance and replacement of aging infrastructure.

The family of a South Carolina woman struck in the head and killed by a rotting 70-year-old utility pole will get $30 million through a wrongful death settlementhttps://t.co/Ur9175ELEo

— WACH FOX (@wachfox) August 15, 2024

The Robinson family hopes this substantial settlement will pressure utility companies and government entities to prioritize public safety and infrastructure inspections. The financial award is not just compensation for their loss but a call to action to prevent future tragedies.

The family of a SC teacher killed when a truck snagged a drooping telephone line no longer in use and catapulted a 70-year-old utility pole into her as she walked for lunch is getting a $30 million wrongful death settlement from two utilities. https://t.co/JyJcpdeNth

— Jeffrey Collins (@JSCollinsAP) August 15, 2024

Continuing Jeunelle’s Legacy

To honor her memory, Robinson’s family plans to use part of the settlement to establish the “Jeunelle Robinson Teacher’s Hope Fund.” This fund will provide school supplies and support teachers, reflecting her passion and dedication to education.

“She loved her class. She loved her students,” Robinson’s father, Donovan Julian, said. “She was a light taken too soon. She was a joy.” This tribute from her father encapsulates the profound impact she had on her students and community.