Gavin
A man claims he sustained spinal and leg injuries after working as a brakeman, conductor and locomotive engineer for more than 30 years for a railroad.
Jack B. Woodward claims he was working for defendant Union Pacific Railroad Company from January 1979 until 2010. During Woodward's career, he became exposed to repetitive trauma by riding on the railroad's cars, by mounting and dismounting the trains and by walking on uneven surfaces.
Because of his work, Woodward sustained a degenerative spinal condition and suffered great pain, mental anguish and extreme nervousness, according to the complaint filed Aug. 25 in St. Clair County Circuit Court. In addition, he incurred medical costs, the suit states.
Union Pacific negligently failed to provide Woodward with a safe workplace, failed to provide him with safe equipment, required him to walk on uneven surfaces, required him to spend long hours riding in locomotives with ergonomically unsafe seats and required him to operate locomotives on poorly maintained tracks, among other negligent acts, the complaint says.
In his two-count complaint, Woodward is seeking a judgment of more than $100,000, plus costs.
William P. Gavin of Gavin Law Firm in Belleville will be representing him.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 11-L-480.