Union Pacific brakeman claims seat broke beneath him

A man claims he suffered neck and back injuries after a locomotive seat on which he was riding broke beneath him.

Randall Brubaker filed a lawsuit April 22 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Union Pacific Railroad Company.

Brubaker claims he was working as a brakeman for Union Pacific on Nov. 20, 2012, when he confronted difficult track conditions that caused his seat to break.

As a result, Brubaker suffered great pain and disability, endured mental anguish and extreme nervousness and incurred medical costs, according to the complaint. He also lost income due to the disability caused by his injury, the suit states.

Brubaker blames Union Pacific for causing his injuries, saying it failed to provide him with a safe place to work, failed to provide him with a safe seat, failed to maintain his seat, failed to inspect his seat, failed to repair the seat, failed to warn of the defective seat and failed to properly maintain its railroad track.

Brubaker is seeking a judgment of more than $100,000, plus costs. He is being represented by William P. Gavin of Gavin Law Firm in Belleville.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 14-L-303.