Wis JI-Civil 1002

The defendant gas company at the time and place in question had a duty to exercise

ordinary care in the manner in which it [inspected (gas pipes) (gas appliances)] [acted after

inspecting plaintiff's (gas pipes) (gas appliances)] [repaired plaintiff's (gas pipes) (gas

appliances)].

To conform to this standard, the care used must be commensurate with the dangerous

consequences which would be reasonably expected from a course of action or inaction. It is

common knowledge that natural gas, if not properly contained, is highly explosive and, if

permitted to escape, is highly dangerous. Therefore, greater caution and vigilance are

required in dealing with this commodity than are required in dealing with ordinary affairs of

life and business.

[Select the appropriate following paragraph.]

[If a gas company, such as the defendant, is notified by a customer of a claimed defect

in the customer's gas appliance, or in gas pipes leading from the company's meter, and the

company knows or should know that if such defect exists it would create a dangerous

condition, it is the duty of the gas company to make an inspection of the claimed defect

within a reasonable time after notification under all the circumstances then existing. If the

company fails to make a proper inspection within a reasonable time, it is negligent.]

[If, on inspection, a defect is found, and the company knows or should know that such

defect creates a dangerous situation, it is the duty of the company either to undertake repair

of the defect or to shut off the gas supply to enable the owner to have the (gas pipes) (gas

appliance) repaired. If the company fails to shut off the gas or to undertake repair of the

defective (gas pipes) (gas appliance), it is negligent.]

[If the company undertakes repair of the defective (gas pipes) (gas appliance), it must

conduct such repair operations in a careful, workmanlike manner and within a reasonable

time; failure to so repair is negligence.]