Well, I can sympathize with the guy.
Shortly after the "Call Before Digging" law became the law of the land in Texas the owner of the company I worked for cut a 100 pair cable with an auger. We truly were not aware of the law and we were nowhere near the right of way.
The home owner told us where the water and sewer lines were and there was no gas line or underground power in the area so we proceeded to dig.
Long story short, one of the managers from the telephone company told us we were going to have to pay for the repair. The home owner told the manager that the telephone company was going to have to pay him back rent for the use of his property.
The cable was abandoned and a new one was ran within the right of way. The telephone company never billed us for the repair and the homeowner never billed for the rent.
You can bet I learned the lesson. I don't dig nuthin' without calling for a locate first!
