A gas pipeline company's "all clear" response to a "call before you dig" request from a construction company resulted in the puncture of a 36 inch high pressure gas pipeline, an explosion and fireball, one fatality, many injuries and a $26 million jury verdict for the construction company. C & H Power Line was doing excavating work for purposes of installing new power lines. As required by federal law, it complied with a "call before you dig" safety measure, received an "all clear" response from pipeline owner Enterprise Texas Pipeline, proceeded with its work and punctured the gas line. C & H claimed in the suit that its business had been ruined by Enterprise's negligence in responding to the "call before you dig" response. The jury also awarded $1 million in punitive damages against Enterprise.
Source: Bartlesville Enterprise-Examiner
