MADISON - ST. CLAIR RECORD

A former railroad worker has filed suit against CSX, alleging he had to have spinal surgery after performing his job for the company.

Jimmie R. Soloman worked as a maintenance of way employee for CSX from 1980 until 2006, according to a complaint filed Sept. 17 in St. Clair County court.

During that time, he sustained severe injuries and had to have spinal surgery, the suit states.

Soloman also claims he injured the muscles, discs, bones, tendons, ligaments and nerves of his spine and right arm.

He also sustained an aggravation of a pre-existing condition to his spine and right arm and was in pain and suffering, according to the complaint.

Soloman has incurred medical costs and permanent disability and disfigurement and has lost substantial money, his earning capacity and a normal life, the suit states.

Soloman claims CSX was negligent because it failed to provide him with a reasonably safe place to work, reasonably safe conditions for work, reasonably safe methods of work and reasonably safe equipment for work.

The company also failed to properly train Soloman, failed to warn him of the true nature of the hazardous effects of long-term employment as a maintenance of way employee and failed to adequately test his physical condition before placing him in the job, according to the complaint.

CSX assigned Soloman to duties it knew would aggravate his pre-existing condition and that were beyond his physical capacity, the suit states.

Soloman alleges the company failed to conduct physical examinations to determine his condition and required him to perform repetitive tasks of heavy and awkward physical labor it should have known would aggravate his pre-existing condition.

Soloman is seeking a judgment in excess of $50,000, plus costs of the suit.

Ryan Brennan of The Brennan Law Firm in Belleville will be representing him.