RECENT VERDICTS and SETTLEMENTS

• $6,000,000.00
  Six million in guaranteed payments for severe injuries to railroad conductor caused by inadequate training

  Railroad conductor was seriously injured when short line railroad failed to provide adequate training to new employees and engineer shoved train into a stationary cut of cars causing the conductor to sustain severe injuries to his leg.

• $2,250,000.00
  Settlement for railroad conductor for on–the–job injury caused by violation of Code of Federal Regulations

  Railroad conductor sustained severe leg injuries due to a CFR radio rule violation that occurred during switching operations. Extensive investigation revealed that incomplete instructions resulted in an unexpected movement of railroad cars. The Court found as a matter of law that the railroad was responsible for the injuries sustained by the conductor due to a radio rule violation.

• $1,500,000.00
  Settlement for railroad conductor injured on industry property due to accumulation of iron ore pellets

  Conductor for a short line railroad sustained serious leg fractures on industry property caused by iron ore pellets that industry claimed were open and obvious. After a vigorous defense, and no offers prior to litigation, the railroad and the industry jointly agreed to settle before jury selection.

• $1,265,000.00
  FELA verdict for back injury to conductor a rail car rolled onto the main line track due to defective derail

  A cut of railroad cars rolled onto the main line track into the path of an oncoming train. The railroad claimed that vandalism caused the occurrence, but evidence presented at trial demonstrated that a derail had not been properly installed. The jury found for the injured conductor after a ten day trial.

• $1,100,000.00
  Settlement of FELA claim for railroad conductor injured by a broken engine seat.

  A 44 year old conductor for a major railroad sustained a disabling back injury caused by a broken engine seat. The employee attempted to return to work after back surgery, but was unable to do so.

• $1,100,000.00
  FELA verdict for knee injury to railroad conductor

  An experienced conductor sustained a knee injury while aligning a defective drawbar. The case proceeded to trial and the jury returned a verdict in favor or the employee.

• $1,050,000.00
  Settlement in FELA case for railroad conductor who sustained back and leg injuries when driver of independent transport van lost control and left the road.

  A 34 year old engineer trainee sustained fractured back and kidney damage when the driver of a transport van lost control of the van and struck an embankment.

• $1,050,000
  FELA verdict in Toledo Ohio for conductor’s carpal tunnel injury

  Railroad engineer failed to obtain a proper set–up and release from the rear end of train resulting in a severe slack run–in which threw the conductor out of his seat and against the wall causing a traumatic carpal tunnel injury.

• $1,050,000.00
  FELA verdict for knee injury to 59 year old railroad conductor

  The conductor in this case sustained a significant injury to his knee and was assured by the railroad that a fair settlement offer would be made once he completed his medical treatment. When the conductor was released by his doctor, the railroad contended that he was not seriously hurt because he never spent a night in the hospital. An inadequate offer to settle was rejected and the jury returned a verdict in excess of a million dollars.

• $1,000,000.00
  FELA settlement for railroad engineer who was injured when a transportation van left the roadway

  A 52 year old locomotive engineer was injured while being transported back to his home terminal in a van. The employee sustained disabling injuries to his low back when the van driver lost control of the vehicle, allegedly due to icy road conditions.

• $1,000,000.00
  Verdict for engineer injured on icy engine step

  Jury verdict in FELA case arising out of a slip and fall on an icy locomotive step. The engineer struck his head and sustained a traumatic brain injury that affected the engineer's functioning and personality.

• $1,000,000.00
  FELA settlement for conductor who suffered loss of lower leg while attempting to board moving equipment

  Experienced railroad conductor sustained traumatic injury resulting in loss of leg while attempting to mount moving equipment. Railroad claimed that there were no defects in the equipment and that the employee was the sole cause of his own injuries. However, a prompt investigation by HTAH demonstrated that grab iron on the rail car which caused the employee to lose his grip and his balance.

• $900,000.00
  FELA settlement for knee injury to conductor

  A 59 year old conductor injured his knee when he stepped in a hole along the switching lead. Railroad claimed that injury was the conductor’s fault and that he was about to retire. Jury believed that conductor would have continued working and awarded lost wages to age 65.

• $890,000.00
  Jury verdict for railroad conductor hit by drunk driver

  Prior to trial, all blame had been placed on a drunken driver who carried only $25,000.00 in insurance coverage. Realizing that the railroad also contributed to the collision by failing to provide the conductor with proper safety equipment, jury returned a verdict against the railroad under the FELA.

• $875,000
  FELA jury verdict for brakeman who tripped over signal wire

  Railroad brakeman tripped over a temporary signal wire and fractured his wrist. The case proceeded to trial resulting in a jury verdict for the full extent of the damages sustained.

• $850,000.00
  FELA settlement for brakeman injured by run–away rail car

  Railroad brakeman sustained back injuries requiring surgery when his train was struck by two runaway rail cars. The railroad argued that the brakeman was disabled by a pre–existing back condition and had not been injured in the collision.

• $850,000.00
  FELA settlement for neck injury caused by defective engine seat

  A fifty–two year old conductor required neck surgery as a result of a defective engine seat. Retired on disability pension and employer paid for on–going college courses.

• $820,000.00
  Settlement of FELA wrongful death claim caused by inadequate safety precautions during a shoving move

  Wrongful death of 58 year old conductor who was struck by train that did not have adequate protection on end of shoving move. Conductor was not warned that train was approaching or that the track was live and did not see the train approaching.