Injured railroad worker files complaint against Illinois Central

An Illinois Central Railroad worker claims he sustained injuries to his neck, shoulder, hips and ankles during his more than 40-year career with the railroad.

David E. Cochran filed a lawsuit Nov. 17 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Illinois Central Railroad Co.

Cochran, who worked as a track laborer from 1969 until now, claims that during his career he was exposed to long-term cumulative trauma, which caused his injuries.

In addition to his injuries, Cochran lost earnings, incurred medical costs and experienced a diminished earning capacity because of his work, according to his complaint.

Cochran blames the railroad for causing his injuries, saying it negligently failed to provide him with a safe place to work, failed to provide him with safe tools, failed to provide him with safe work methods, failed to provide him with proper supervision, failed to warn him of the risks of developing cumulative traumas and destroyed studies of welders and welders' helpers and track laborers published in 1991.

In his complaint, Cochran seeks an unspecified judgment, plus costs and other damages the court deems just.

Paul T. Slocomb of Blunt Slocomb in St. Louis will be representing him.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 10-L-599.