Railroad worker seeking $1million claims flashbacks, psychological damage

A railroad worker who sustained severe injuries while working for Union Pacific (UP) filed a Federal Employers' Liability Act suit in Madison County Circuit Court July 27, alleging his employer failed to provide him a safe place to work.

Joseph Patrick Cullivan claims the injuries he sustained are so severe that he is suffering from flashbacks and may have sustained permanent psychological and emotional damages.

According to Cullivan, he was operating a grapple boom truck over railroad tracks in Wood River as a maintenance of way employee when he was struck violently by a Federal Railroad Administrative Safety Vehicle operated by UP.

Cullivan claims UP negligently failed to provide him with safe conditions, failed to provide safe equipment and help, failed to provide a reasonably safe crossing and failed to provide him supervision.

He claims the collision caused injuries to his back, neck, chest, bladder, kidneys, head, face, legs, arms and shoulders causing lost wages, medical expenses and the loss of a normal life.

Represented by Daniel Francis of St. Louis, Cullivan is seeking damages a "fair and reasonable under the circumstances in excess of $1 million."

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Daniel Stack.

07 L 677