Qualcomm Avoids Liability for Injured California Contract Worker

Qualcomm Inc. is not liable for injuries sustained by a contractor working on electrical switchgear at the company’s San Diego campus, the California Supreme Court said Thursday.

The wireless technology company hired TransPower Testing, an electrical contractor, to review and verify the capacity of the switchgear in preparation for upgrading generators on the Qualcomm campus.

TransPower hired Martin Sandoval, an electrical parts specialist, to inspect parts inside one of the switchgear’s components. After Qualcomm powered down certain circuits so that TransPower could perform its inspection, TransPower’s president, Frank Sharghi, who is also a licensed electrical engineer, instructed one of his ...