# **Judge Tosses Lawsuit Regarding Verizon’s Lead-Encased Cables, Citing Insufficient Evidence of Injury**
A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit brought by a worker associated with utility poles who asserted that health problems he experienced were due to exposure from lead-encased cables installed by Verizon. The ruling, made on Friday, determined that the plaintiff, Mark Tiger, did not provide enough evidence to connect his health issues to lead exposure linked to Verizon’s cables. Nonetheless, the judge indicated that Tiger might have a chance to pursue his claims in state court.
## **Background of the Case**
The lawsuit was initiated in September 2023 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. It was prompted by a **Wall Street Journal** article uncovering at least 2,000 lead-encased telephone cables installed long ago by various telecommunications companies, including Verizon. The article raised alarms about possible health dangers that come from long-term exposure to these cables.
Tiger, who worked previously for Figure 8 Communications and Duda Cable Construction (a Comcast contractor), contended that while working on utility poles, he had frequent direct contact with Verizon’s lead-encased cables. In his complaint, he noted that his body and clothing often brushed against the cables and that he regularly needed to grip them for stability. He claimed that this exposure resulted in symptoms such as **headaches, nausea, fatigue, irritability, muscle and joint pain, and constipation**—all of which can relate to lead poisoning.
## **Judge’s Decision: Exposure by Itself Is Insufficient**
Despite Tiger’s assertions, **U.S. District Judge Nicholas Ranjan** ruled that the lawsuit lacked standing as it failed to demonstrate a direct connection between Tiger’s symptoms and lead exposure from Verizon’s cables. The judge stressed that **simple exposure to lead does not signify a concrete injury**, pointing out that lead exists naturally in both the environment and within human bodies to some degree.
*”Considering the naturally occurring lead levels in the environment and in our bodies, as well as the possibility that individuals exposed to lead may not exhibit any lead-related conditions or symptoms, mere exposure to lead—and the mere presence of lead in one’s system—doesn’t qualify as a concrete injury,”* Ranjan noted in his opinion.
Moreover, the judge highlighted that Tiger had not undergone **blood or bone testing** to determine the lead levels in his body. Without conclusive evidence, the court could not ascertain if his symptoms were due to Verizon’s lead-covered cables or other environmental influences.
## **Verizon’s Position and Ongoing Legal Challenges**
Verizon has asserted that its lead-covered cables do not present significant health risks. In September 2023, the company claimed that **soil lead levels adjacent to its cables were comparable to those in nearby regions**, implying that the cables were not a primary source of contamination.
The company is also up against a **similar lawsuit in New Jersey**, initiated by Greg Bostard, a former Comcast employee who alleges he was exposed to Verizon’s lead-encased cables while working on utility poles. Verizon has sought to dismiss this lawsuit as well, contending it suffers from the same **lack of solid evidence** that led to the dismissal of Tiger’s case.
## **Consequences for Utility Workers and Upcoming Lawsuits**
Although the dismissal of Tiger’s lawsuit is a setback for utility workers worried about lead exposure, the judge’s ruling allows for the possibility of seeking claims in **state courts**. If Tiger or other workers can furnish stronger medical documentation linking their symptoms to lead exposure, they may have a greater likelihood of succeeding in future legal efforts.
The situation also underscores the **wider concern regarding aging telecommunications infrastructure** and the potential health hazards connected with **legacy lead-covered cables**. As awareness increases, regulatory bodies and lawmakers may advocate for further inquiries and remediation actions to tackle these issues.
Currently, Verizon has effectively defended itself against this lawsuit, yet the discussion surrounding lead exposure in utility work is far from settled.
