Dec 16 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Sara Ganim The Centre Daily Times, State College, Pa.


The family of a State College woman who died of carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator in her home is getting $70,000 in a settlement with Allegheny Power company.

The settlement comes more than two years after Wendy Tanner's family sued, saying the power company cut off her electric service about two months before her death.

Tanner, who was 43, installed a generator in the garage of her 2131 N. Oak Lane Home when West Penn Power, owned by Allegheny, stopped service in May 2005 because she wasn't paying the bill.

Tanner was a mother of two and painter who had attended the Bellefonte Area School District. Her daughters will receive the money, settlement papers say.

Patton Township police say CO leaked into the house through a crack in a door where the power cord ran from the garage into the home.

Tanner and her husband, Keith Tanner, were exposed to carbon monoxide fumes, causing Wendy Tanner's death and Keith Tanner's "permanent and severe injuries," the lawsuit said.

In settlement forms, the Tanners' attorney says the settlement was reached "in view of the uncertainty of whether the termination of service on May 17, 2005 would ultimately be found to be a proximate cause of the event which led to Wendy Tanner's death seven weeks later on July 4, 2005."

Keith Tanner is also getting $30,000 for his injury claims.

The settlement documents show West Penn gave only a limited six-day notice to the low-income family, instead of the 10-day notice required by code.

Sara Ganim can be reached at 231-4616.

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