Norfolk Southern track inspector claims cancer and back injuries

Norfolk Southern Railway Co. track inspector William Cyrus claims he developed cancer and his back and neck became "worn-out," in a $100,000 Federal Employer's Liability Act suit filed Monday.

As a Maintenance of Way Department foreman, he also claims injury from exposure to chemicals including insecticides, herbicides, cleaning solvents, diesel fumes, creosote and silica.

"Plaintiff sustained severe and permanent injuries to his blood, bone marrow, lungs, pulmonary, cardiovascular and internal systems, resulting in disease and infestation to his body and related medical problems, including cancer…," states the complaint filed Aug. 11 in Madison County Circuit Court.

Cyrus also alleges in the two-count lawsuit that he suffered repetitive trauma to his body and, "in particular, his back and neck, and caused him to be severely and permanently injured, and to develop a 'worn-out' or repetitive injury to his body, in whole or in part, due to the carelessness and negligence of Defendant," the complaint states.

He is represented by Robert W. Schmieder of Pratt & Tobin in East Alton.