PITTSBURGH -- While the parents of Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth remembered their son on Memorial Day, military contractor KBR was calling for a judge to throw out their lawsuit over his death, and U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire said an investigation is needed.

Maseth, of Shaler Township, is one of more than a dozen American solders killed by electrocution in Iraq. He died in January while taking a shower at a base.

According to the allegations in Maseth's parents' lawsuit, military contractor KBR knew about hazardous, faulty electrical systems, but didn't fix those things and didn't warn soldiers.

"Someone didn't even shut the building down or turn the electricity off? And they allowed him to live there and risked his life? Who's protecting our troops?" Maseth's mother, Cheryl Harris, told WTAE Channel 4 Action News in March.

"To be electrocuted in a shower, how can that be justified? I don't know," said Maseth's father, Doug, in January.

The parents want to know what KBR and the government knew -- and when -- about electrocution dangers. They also want to know if Maseth's death was preventable.

KBR's latest court motion, which was filed heading into the holiday weekend, asks a judge to dismiss the family's lawsuit.

The filing says the case "raises inherently political questions involving... military policy level and tactical decision making ... and the direction the military provided to KBR regarding needed repair work."

Altmire, D-McCandless, is pressing to bring military and contractor officials before Congress to answer questions about who knew what and who did what about electrocution dangers.

"I think to argue that you should, as a contractor, have the right to ignore a known problem and suffer no consequences as a result when your inaction causes death is a pretty faulty argument," Altmire said on Monday.

KBR's filing also cites the "combatant activities exemption" which "shields the U.S. government" and "...has also been interpreted to protect the military's defense contractors, like KBR," according to the legal documents.

"To say that contractors should have some sort of exemption away from this type of activity, I think, is ludicrous," Altmire said.

KBR has said that it was providing repair services at the facility in response to Army requests at the time of Ryan Maseth's death.

"KBR's top priority is the safety and security of its employees and the customers the company serves. Our thoughts and prayers remain with Staff Sgt. Maseth's family," the company said in an e-mail to WTAE Channel 4 Action News on Monday.

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