Family of Aiken County teacher killed by pole settles with utility companies for $30M

Attorneys recently confirmed the family of Jeunelle Robinson, a 31-year-old teacher who was fatally struck by a utility pole as she walked along Main Street in Wagener last year, settled their case against Dominion Energy and Comporium.

Robinson, a social studies teacher at Wagener-Salley High School, was walking down Main Street on Aug. 23, 2023, when a tractor trailer hit a low-hanging overhead utility line that pulled eight poles out of the ground, according to a news release from attorney Justin Bamberg of Bamberg Legal LLC. One of the poles, which flew through the air, struck Robinson, gravely injuring her. She later died from her injuries, caused by blunt force trauma.

The family filed a lawsuit against Dominion Energy and Comporium on March 11, after having already reached a settlement with the tractor trailer company, according to the release. A $30 million settlement reached last week between the family and the two other companies resolves all claims.

Previous reports by The Chronicle noted the family was seeking $130 million.

Bamberg noted Robinson's family "opted to settle with the companies as the one-year anniversary of their daughter's death approached in an effort to honor her memory and finally have closure," according to the release.

Previous report: 'It's corporate greed': Lawsuit filed following gruesome death of Aiken County teacher

"Although nothing can bring Jeunelle back to her family, we are pleased to have reached this resolution with the parties involved," Bamberg said. "We appreciate the leadership of Dominion and Comporium for working with us to ensure Jeunelle's family would not have to relive this tragedy in court unnecessarily. We are focused on protecting rural areas that are often overlooked by utility and power companies around the country, and we hope that this tragic situation will result in greater attention being focused on repairing and maintaining poles in America’s rural areas."

Robinson's family is partnering with Bamberg to create the "Jeunelle Robinson Teacher's Hope Fund," which will provide school supplies and other items to teachers throughout South Carolina and the country.

"Jeunelle often spent her own money on teaching supplies in an effort to provide the best educational experience possible for her students," according to the release.

Bamberg Legal and the family will not comment, according to the release.

Initial report: 'My stomach knotted up': $130 million lawsuit threatened after utility pole falls on teacher

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Family of Aiken County teacher killed by pole settles with utility companies for $30M