Jury awards JJ's $5.9 million, TWC 98% responsible
 

Jury awards JJ's $5.9 million in damages, finds Time Warner Cable 98 percent responsible
JJ's responsible for remaining 2 percent

41 Action News Staff , Jessica McMaster
2:21 PM, Aug 27, 2015
52 mins ago

JACKSON COUNTY, Mo. - A Jackson County jury has found Time Warner Cable 98 percent responsible in a civil case involving damages at JJ's restaurant after an explosion in 2013.

The jury was deciding if Time Warner and line marking company USIC were liable, but found the line company was not at fault.

The jury determined that JJ's was responsible for the remaining 2 percent.

The restaurant will be awarded $5.9 million in damages from Time Warner Cable.

JJ's was seeking $9 million for the loss of the building and $1 million for the loss of the restaurant's wine collection.

Time Warner Cable Spokesperson Mike Hogan released the statement below following the court decision:

"We know no court decision can undo this tragedy. We'll take some time to review the court's decision before deciding our next step in this case."

Testimony in this lawsuit began in late July.

Click here for our coverage of the trial.

Two years ago, an explosion destroyed the restaurant, injured 14 people and killed server Megan Cramer.

This case could set precedent nationally as the installation of fiber optic cables becomes more widespread.

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How exactly was the fiber installation responsible?

I wonder how you come up with 2% responsibility?

TWC will tie this up on appeal for decades.

My only though is maybe they dinged a gas line or something during the install?

Ok. Didn't know if there was any information available yet.

Controlled demolition

I think so. I live up the street the whole area wreaked of gas that day. Like very strong I'm really surprised the area wasn't evacuated before then.

98% responsibility but only award 56% of the total suit.

fiber optics have lazers
and lazers make things explode

They hit a gas line.

The cousin of a good friend from junior high and high school perished in that explosion.

I hope the family received far more than $5.9 million from TWC.

I imagine civil lawsuits were ready and waiting for the decision about who is responsible

From the KC star - "The jury apparently wanted to send a message that JJ’s should “have more training for employees and a better evacuation plan,” Emerson said. “That’s been accomplished.”"

What did JJ look like before the explosion?