Oregon Janitor Seeks $20 Million After He was Shocked by a 7,000-Volt Electric Fence

A 52-year-old janitor who was severely shocked and injured when he touched an electric fence protecting a business property that he had been cleaning has filed a $20 million lawsuit against the business and the manufacturer of the fence.

Gregory Dimiceli says the incident occurred when he was leaving the premises of Peterson Trucks in Fescue Street Southeast Albany located on an industrial strip alongside Interstate 5.

The lawsuit was filed in the Multnomah County Circuit Court by Dimiceli’s attorney Travis Eiva of Eugene, and states that Dimiceli became temporarily paralyzed and was unable to release his grip on the fence until he collapsed to the ground unconscious.

He struck his head as he fell, causing a concussion and suffered injuries from the electrical shock to his mouth, neck, back, chest, shoulder, and hand.

Unknown to Dimiceli the Electric Fence Was Already Activated

According to the lawsuit, Peterson Trucks has a 7,000-volt electric fence and Dimiceli had been instructed by his janitorial services company employer to activate the fence when leaving the premises using a panel on the outside of the gate.

He was the last to leave the premises on the evening of October 5, 2022, but unbeknown to Dimiceli another employee had activated the fence without checking if anyone else was on the premises.

The lawsuit contends that there was no way for Dimiceli to establish from inside the gate that the fence had been activated, or no way for him to use a switch to turn it off.

The suit states that when Dimiceli regained consciousness, he was disoriented and went home to sleep. When he awoke, he was in pain and felt dizzy. He was also vomiting and struggling to breathe, so sought medical attention.

The lawsuit is claiming $2 million for past and future medical expenses, $750,000 for future lost wages, and $17.5 million for pain and suffering. The suit goes on to state that Dimiceli may have to seek assisted living care earlier than planned.

Amarok, the South Carolina-based fence manufacturer, has disputed Dimiceli’s injuries, while Peterson Trucks failed to respond to a request for comment. Amarok spokesperson Kerry Gibson said in a statement that the company’s security fences are tested to ensure compliance with national and international safety standards.