Loose ballast caused railroader's hip and back injuries

CSX Transportation employee Craig Burris filed a Federal Employers' Liability Act suit claiming he slipped and fell on loose ballast at the railroad's Roselake Yards facility in Fairmont City.

Burris, who was helping to move railcars, is seeking in excess of $50,000 in damages for hip and back injuries he claims he suffered on Oct. 26, 2005.

According to the suit filed Feb. 2 in St. Clair County Circuit Court, CSX was negligent for failing to provide Burris with a safe place to work, for failing to maintain the track areas so he could safely perform his job duties and for failing to inspect the track areas where he was required to work.

Represented by Joseph R. Hillebrand of Kassly, Bone, English & Hillebrand, Burris claims he suffered severe, disabling and permanent injuries. He claims he has lost and will continue to lose certain sums of money from his usual employment, and that he has been forced to expend large sums of money for medical care.