Ryan Brennan
The administrator of a recently deceased railroad worker's estate has filed suit against the railroad, alleging the worker died due to a heart condition he developed due to his employment.
Darlene Hall claims Duane E. Smith was working as a locomotive engineer for defendant CSX Transportation in East St. Louis. During the course of his employment, Smith developed a heart condition that caused him to suffer a heart attack while working on Jan. 12, 2009, according to the complaint filed Jan. 11 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.
Before his fatal heart attack, Smith endured severe pain and mental anguish, the suit states.
Hall blames CSX for causing Smith's death, saying it negligently failed to provide him with a safe place to work, failed to provide him with safe work conditions, failed to provide safe work methods and failed to properly train him.
In her complaint, Hall is seeking a judgment of more than $50,000, plus costs.
Edward F. Brennan and Ryan Brennan of The Brennan Law Firm in Belleville will be representing her.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 12-L-16.