A routine streetlight repair turned catastrophic for City of Las Vegas public-works employee Tommy Weiland when an electrical blast on June 6, 2024 led to the loss of his lower right leg. He has filed a lawsuit in Clark County District Court against NV Energy and several equipment suppliers, alleging defective products and unsafe power-line conditions, and he and his wife, Vanessa, are seeking damages and a jury trial.
Utility and Vendors in the Legal Crosshairs
The complaint names NV Energy, Altec Industries, Priority Wire & Cable and Codale Electric Supply and brings claims of strict product liability, breach of warranty and negligence, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The filing asks for a jury trial and seeks damages "in excess of $15,000," along with punitive damages and attorney fees, the paper reports. The suit alleges the products used on the job were not adequately insulated and that NV Energy failed to maintain required horizontal and vertical clearances for its power lines.
How a Repair Shift Turned Into a Fireball
On June 6, 2024, Weiland and a co-worker were stringing new ACSR cable from a bucket truck after underground copper wiring had been stolen, when a high-voltage arc allegedly jumped to them while they were elevated near a streetlight, according to FOX5. One worker told the station he briefly lost consciousness as the current ran through his body, and reports say an initial arc was followed by a second, larger blast when the aerial device shifted. Both men were rushed to University Medical Center’s trauma unit and underwent multiple surgeries.
Injuries, Surgeries and a Community Fundraiser
A GoFundMe organized by a family member describes electricity moving "through the back of Tommy's neck, down his right arm, and through his right leg," and says he has already undergone six surgeries with many more expected. The fundraiser lists roughly $10,811 raised toward a $20,000 goal to help cover medical bills, housing and daily expenses. Family accounts and local reports say his recovery has been prolonged and that the blast left him with severe, permanent injuries.
Inside the Allegations in the Complaint
According to the lawsuit, the first electrical arc allegedly occurred when current jumped from sagging NV Energy power lines to the Altec aerial lift truck and-or the ACSR cable the crew was installing, the Review-Journal reports. The filing further claims the lift truck later moved while the workers were incapacitated, triggering a second, larger arc. The replacement cable was reportedly found blackened, melted and broken after the incident, which plaintiffs argue reflects product defects and negligence. They are seeking both compensatory and punitive damages and want a jury to determine liability.
Copper Theft, Overhead Lines and What Comes Next
The case throws a spotlight on the hazards facing crews who rewire streetlights after a spike in copper theft, an issue that local officials and news outlets say has pushed more repair work closer to energized overhead lines. FOX5 reported that local agencies have documented extensive wire theft in recent years and that repairs can put city crews in close proximity to high-voltage equipment. The Weiland complaint is now pending in Clark County District Court, and future filings, along with any response from the named defendants, will determine whether the case heads toward a full jury trial.
