Family of girl hurt by downed power line during Superstorm Sandy files lawsuit against FirstEnergy

CLEVELAND - The family of a 12-year-old girl shocked by a downed power line during Superstorm Sandy has filed a lawsuit against FirstEnergy.

FirstEnergy confirmed the filing, but stated they could not provide further comment on the case.

On Nov. 1, Gasia Thomas, 12, was walking home from school around 3 p.m. when she touched a down power line in the area of East 123rd Street and Iriqouis Avenue in Cleveland.

Thomas was rushed to University Hospital Rainbow Babies were she was listed in critical condition for several months.

Around 8 a.m. on the day of the incident, Cleveland police and FirstEnergy were notified of the downed line by residents. Officers arrived to the area to check the scene around 9:47 a.m., and it was determined that the wire appeared to be an AT&T telephone line and not a live power line.

Cleveland police were sent to check on the line and reported it as a downed phone line instead of a live downed power line.

Following the incident, the city of Cleveland and Cleveland police announced a review of the incident by the Cleveland Division of Police Integrity Control Section, ordered by Cleveland Police Chief Michael McGrath.

The mayor’s office said Cleveland police conducted an investigation into the matter and a hearing is schedule for Jan. 31.