Alton & Southern Railway in East St. Louis
Billy Gresham filed a Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA) suit against Alton & Southern Railway Company seeking damages for injuries he allegedly received while coupling a loaded hopper car to a locomotive.
In a suit filed Dec. 16 in St. Clair County Circuit Court, Gresham claims he was "grievously injured" at the East St. Louis rail yard on April 5, 2005.
According to the suit, Alton & Southern failed to provide Gresham with a reasonably safe place to work, failed to monitor and protect the location of the train crew and failed to warn him that a railcar had been humped on the track he was working on.
Gresham, who is seeking in excess of $50,000 in damages, also claims that Alton & Southern carelessly conducted activities within its hump yard. He claims a second rail car was allowed to enter the track on which he was working, causing a collision.
Gresham claims the collision caused permanent injuries and disability to his neck and back which has caused pain and suffering.
He also claims he has become liable for medical expenses, lost wages and fringe benefits, and that his quality of life has been diminished.
Gresham is represented by John Papa of Callis, Papa, Hale, Szewczyk, Rongey & Danzinger of Granite City.
05 L 729 (20th Circuit)