Justice for Kessler Brockman: Demand Utility Safety Reform Now

Recent signers:
Kristen Dotson Schmidt and 19 others have signed recently.

The Issue

Kessler Brockman was just 23 years old when he was electrocuted while trimming trees near Evergy power lines in Kansas City. According to a wrongful death lawsuit filed by his mother, Evergy assured the crew that the lines had been de-energized. They hadn’t. The impact was fatal. Kessler suffered catastrophic injuries and died days later in the hospital.

No one should die doing their job—especially when preventable safety measures could have saved them. Kessler was doing the kind of tough, necessary work that keeps neighborhoods safe from downed power lines and outages. The very least he deserved was accurate information and reliable protections. But according to the lawsuit, Evergy not only failed to properly de-energize the lines—they also failed to maintain basic safety mechanisms that should have shut off power when the line was struck.

This wasn’t just a tragic accident. It was a systems failure—one that cost a young man his life and a mother her only son.

We are calling on the Missouri Public Service Commission and OSHA Region 7 to launch a full investigation into Evergy’s safety practices, emergency response protocols, and subcontractor oversight. These agencies must ensure this never happens again—not to another tree trimmer, line worker, or utility contractor anywhere in the state.

We also call on Evergy to publicly acknowledge what went wrong, issue a formal apology to the Brockman family, and commit to third-party oversight of its safety systems moving forward.

Kessler’s life mattered. His death must spark change—not just legal proceedings. Sign this petition to demand transparency, accountability, and reform in the name of Kessler and every worker who risks their life to serve their community.

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Recent signers:
Kristen Dotson Schmidt and 19 others have signed recently.

The Issue

Kessler Brockman was just 23 years old when he was electrocuted while trimming trees near Evergy power lines in Kansas City. According to a wrongful death lawsuit filed by his mother, Evergy assured the crew that the lines had been de-energized. They hadn’t. The impact was fatal. Kessler suffered catastrophic injuries and died days later in the hospital.

No one should die doing their job—especially when preventable safety measures could have saved them. Kessler was doing the kind of tough, necessary work that keeps neighborhoods safe from downed power lines and outages. The very least he deserved was accurate information and reliable protections. But according to the lawsuit, Evergy not only failed to properly de-energize the lines—they also failed to maintain basic safety mechanisms that should have shut off power when the line was struck.

This wasn’t just a tragic accident. It was a systems failure—one that cost a young man his life and a mother her only son.

We are calling on the Missouri Public Service Commission and OSHA Region 7 to launch a full investigation into Evergy’s safety practices, emergency response protocols, and subcontractor oversight. These agencies must ensure this never happens again—not to another tree trimmer, line worker, or utility contractor anywhere in the state.

We also call on Evergy to publicly acknowledge what went wrong, issue a formal apology to the Brockman family, and commit to third-party oversight of its safety systems moving forward.

Kessler’s life mattered. His death must spark change—not just legal proceedings. Sign this petition to demand transparency, accountability, and reform in the name of Kessler and every worker who risks their life to serve their community.

avatar of the starter
Community PetitionPetition Starter
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The Decision Makers

Kayla Hahn
Kayla Hahn
Missouri Public Service Commission Chair
Dorinda Hughes
Dorinda Hughes
OSHA Region 7 Director
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