A California jury recently awarded over $5 million to the children of a construction worker who died after being electrocuted by a live cable while working at the Naval Weapons Station in Concord. Bob McAsey was using a chipping gun to clear concrete at a construction site on the base when he accidentally pierced an underground electrical cable.

According to plaintiff attorneys, the Navy improperly completed a utilities search, which would have discovered the obstruction. During the trial, the Navy insisted that McAsey's employer, Dillingham Construction Company, was responsible for the utilities search. McAsey's children filed suit against the Navy and Dillingham, alleging both were responsible for their father's death.