Show Federal Court Awards Forest Fire Damages Judgment Rendered For Destruction of High Voltage Power Line LineIn In a directed verdict rendered last Thursday Judge Tilman D. D Johnson of the Federal District Court rendered a judgment of oC in favor of Telluride Power Company against I. I Ernest Bushnell Bushnell Bushnell Bush- Bush nell and J. J Leo Stott of Meadow as a result of the destruction of about four miles of or high voltage power line in the grass and brush fire ire set by the defendants on September September September Sept Sept- I ember 18 1942 Judge Johnson held in effect that Bushnell and Stott had started started started start start- ed the fire unlawfully and without proper permits and did not provide sufficient fire lines or men to protect protect protect pro pro- adjoining lands and did not show adequate defense for their actions The amount awarded the plaintiff plaintiff plaintiff plain plain- tiff company was the actual out- out pocket of-pocket cost of restoring the power line and does not include any overhead expenses or exemplary exemplary exemplary lary damages the company having waived its claims to these last two items by stipulation This case is an aftermath of or the fire set by Bushnell and Stott to clear some public land south of Fillmore prior to seeding re-seeding it for grazing The fire Cire got beyond control control control con con- and burned over about eight thousand acres destroying not only only ony on- on ly y the power line but also the the U. U. U Sorest S. S Forest orest Service experimental deer pasture and over one hundred head of deer |