Changes in Judicial Concepts of Utility Liability

This article focuses on changes that have taken place in judicial interpretations of utility liability for damages or bodily injury resulting from broken mains or services in recent years. The article discusses three areas that have been particularly affected, including: judicial thinking regarding liability cases in the earlier days; the present trend; and, what water utilities may do to keep the cost of damage claims to a minimum. Several examples of court cases are provided that illustrate the three basic types of liability cases, and the courts' change of thinking in the field of negligent liability.