High Court Says Qualcomm Not Liable for Severe Burns Suffered by Contractor's Employee

The California Supreme Court said Qualcomm Inc. owed no duty to a contractor’s employee who suffered third-degree burns after he triggered an arc flash from a circuit that he did not know was live. The high court said there was no dispute that Qualcomm was shielded from liability by the Privette doctrine, which presumes a hiring party delegates control over workplace safety and can’t be sued for injuries suffered by a contractor’s workers. The court also said model jury instructions failed to adequately describe one of the exceptions to this principle. Jose M. Sandoval work...