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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Any help with the following issue would be much appreciated.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Background: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Utility contractor hit unmarked “inactive” utility lines (after giving proper notice of excavation via 811 One-Call system per Fla. Stat. 556). Incident caused damage to contractor’s equipment and resulted in damages to contractor for delays. Facility owner claims it is not responsible for marking “inactive” lines under Fla. Stat. 556 and thus is not liable for damages.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Question: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(Part I) Are facility owners responsible for marking inactive lines under Fla. Stat. 556? <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(Part II) Does the analysis/answer change depending on whether the line was inactive, retired, or abandoned?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(Part III) If facility owners are not responsible for marking inactive lines under Fla. Stat. 556, are they liable for damages caused by their inactive lines under any other theory of law?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please let me know if there is anyone I should speak with that may have some insight on this issue.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Marika Sevin<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Associate Attorney & Mediator*<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><img width=269 height=66 id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01CE562D.442BC7C0" alt="TrittAssociates_Logo_CMYK"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>707 Peninsular Place<br>Jacksonville, Florida 32204<br><br>Phone (904) 354-5200<br>Facsimile (904) 354-5256<br><a href="mailto:%5Be-mail%5D"><span style='color:blue'>Marika.Sevin@atritt.com </span></a><br><a href="http://www.atritt.com/"><span style='color:blue'>www.atritt.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>*Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information and all attachments contained in this electronic communication are legally privileged and confidential information, subject to the attorney-client privilege and intended only for the use of intended recipients. If the reader of this message is not an intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, use, dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately of the error by return email and please permanently remove any copies of this message from your system and do not retain any copies, whether in electronic or physical form or otherwise. Unauthorized interception of this e-mail is a violation of federal criminal law.<br><br>TAX ADVICE DISCLOSURE: Pursuant to the requirements of Internal Revenue Service Circular 230, we advise you that any federal tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of: (1) avoiding penalties that maybe imposed under the Internal Revenue Code or (2) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed in this communication.<br><br>Disclaimer regarding Uniform Electronic Transactions Act ("UETA") (Florida Statutes Section 668.50): If this communication concerns negotiation of a contract or agreement, UETA does not apply to this communication; contract formation in this matter shall occur only with manually-affixed original signatures on original documents.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>