Jerseyville man sues Union Pacific

A Jerseyville man filed a Federal Employers' Liability Act suit against Union Pacific Railroad in Madison County Circuit Court Feb. 15, claiming the railroad failed to provide him a safe place to work.

Richard Baumgartner claims that on April 2, 2006, while working as a conductor in Venice, he injured his neck while climbing a rail car after his lantern had become caught on the rail car.

He claims Union Pacific was negligent by failing to provide safe conditions to work, failing to provide reasonable methods to perform his work, failing to adequately light the area where he was required to work and failing to place locomotives and trains in well-lit areas.

Baumgartner also claims Union Pacific required him to climb rail cars with a lantern in his hand and failed to properly work employees to allow them to bring their trains into the yard or a well lighted area within the hours of service so that rail cars were not left on the tracks in the middle of the night in an unlit area.

According to the complaint, Baumgartner's injuries caused pain and suffering, lost wages, and medical expenses.

Represented by Mark DuPont of Dupo, Baumgartner is seeking damages in excess of $50,000, plus costs of the suit.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Barbara Crowder.

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