Former Norfolk Southern employee claims repetitive trauma

A former Norfolk Southern Railway Company employee has filed suit against the railroad, alleging he was injured after he was exposed to numerous repetitive traumas while working for it.

Richard A. Curtis claims he worked for Norfolk Southern Railway Company from 2004 through 2010. During that time, he was subjected to numerous repetitive traumas, according to the complaint filed Feb. 18 in Madison County Circuit Court.

Curtis blames the railroad for a number of negligent acts, including its failure to provide safe and suitable tools and personal protective equipment with which to work, its failure to provide adequate supervision, its failure to warn Curtis of reasonably foreseeable hazardous conditions, its allowance of unsafe practices to become standard, its assigning work to Curtis that it knew would result in injury, its assigning duties to Curtis that it knew were in excess of his physical capabilities and its failure to provide a safe place to work.

As a result of his work and the railroad's alleged negligence, Curtis suffered severe and permanent injuries to his wrists, hands and body; experienced great pain and mental anguish; lost earnings; experienced a diminished earning capacity; and incurred medical costs, the suit states.

Curtis seeks a judgment of more than $50,000, plus costs.

Gregory M. Tobin of Pratt and Tobin in East Alton will be representing him.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 10-L-185.