Fair v. BNSF Railway

June 30, 2015 by Justia

After plaintiff was injured while working on the railroad, he filed suit against BNSF under the Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA), 45 U.S.C. 51 et seq., alleging that he was injured because of BNSF's negligence. A jury found in favor of plaintiff and awarded him over $3 million in damages. BNSF appealed. The court rejected BNSF's argument that the Federal Railroad Safety Act (FRSA), 49 U.S.C. 20101 et seq., and its regulations preclude plaintiff's FELA claim. Rather, the court concluded that the FRSA and its regulations do not preclude federal claims under FELA and rejected BNSF's other contentions. Accordingly, the court affirmed the judgment. View "Fair v. BNSF Railway" on Justia Law