AT&T sues Chicago over cable cut by excavator

AT&T has sued the city of Chicago over a damaged underground cable.

AT&T Illinois filed suit March 11 in Cook County Circuit Court against the city of Chicago, citing property damage.

According to the complaint, AT&T, under contract to install underground cable, installed the cable at 4244 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago, and on Feb. 12, 2014, the city "caused excavation and other related activities to be done at or near said location."

The suit states the city and its workers failed to learn the location of AT&T's cable; ignored the probability they would damage the cable; failed to keep equipment from striking the cable; failed to keep a proper lookout during the dig; failed to have AT&T mark where its cable was; disregarded markings indicating the cable's location; failed to supervise and control its workers; failed to support the cable after uncovering it; violated the Occupational Safety and Health Act; and were careless and negligent.

AT&T seeks damages incurred in repairing the cable, $54,044.68, plus costs. It is represented by attorney Todd Shivers, an AT&T lawyer, in Geneva.