A former welder for Union Pacific Railroad has filed suit against the company, alleging he sustained injuries because of repetitive work he was forced to perform throughout his career.
Jeffrey W. Stevens claims he worked as a welder for Union Pacific Railroad from 2004 through 2010 when he was subjected to numerous repetitive traumas while repairing Union Pacific's railroad tracks.
Because of his work, Stevens suffered severe and permanent injuries to his neck, spine and body; experienced great pain and mental anguish; lost earnings; suffered a diminished earning capacity; and incurred medical costs, according to his complaint filed April 9 in Madison County Circuit Court.
Union Pacific allegedly negligently failed to provide Stevens with safe and suitable tools and equipment, failed to provide him with adequate supervision, failed to warn him of reasonably foreseeable hazardous conditions, allowed unsafe practices to become standard, assigned Stevens work it knew would result in injury, assigned Stevens duties it knew were beyond his physical capacity, failed to provide a safe place to work and failed to provide safe work methods, the suit states. In addition, it failed to provide sufficient manpower, the complaint says.
In his complaint, Stevens is seeking 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-411.
Railroad welder claims repetitive injuries in FELA suit
ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS STORY