Union Pacific worker sues over months and years of physically stressful work

A man has filed suit against the railroad company for which he worked, alleging he suffered back injuries due to the intense physical labor he was exposed to throughout his career.

Charles C. Musgraves filed suit April 30 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Union Pacific Railroad Company.

According to the complaint, Musgraves was working for the defendant since July 1974. During his employment, he was exposed to “months and years of physically stressful, ergonomically awkward job duties, including but not limited to heavy work requiring lifting, lifting and using various heavy tools, extreme manual labor and maintenance, which has caused injury to the plaintiff’s back,” the suit states.

It was not until Nov. 15, that Musgraves was diagnosed with his injuries, according to the complaint.

In addition to his injuries, Musgraves lost wages, suffered great physical pain and mental anguish and lost his quality of life, the suit states. He also incurred medical costs and has been unable to perform his usual duties, the complaint says.

Musgraves blames Union Pacific Railroad Company for causing his injuries, saying it negligently failed to provide Musgraves with a safe place to work, failed to provide safe working conditions, failed to provide safe methods of work, failed to enact a comprehensive ergonomics program, failed to provide safe equipment and failed to provide adequate protection from exposure to cumulative trauma.

Musgraves is seeking a judgment of more than $50,000, plus costs and other relief the court deems just. He is being represented by G. Michael Stewart of Simmons, Browder, Gianaris, Angelides and Barnerd in Alton.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 14-L-310.