BELLEVILLE — A locomotive engineer is suing Central Railroad Company, alleging the train's cab seat collapsed and broke, causing him to sustain serious injuries.
Joshua Ohmart filed a complaint July 28 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Illinois Central Railroad Company, alleging violation of federal law.
According to the complaint, Ohmart was working as a locomotive engineer for Central Railroad on Oct. 23, 2019, in Cario. Ohmart alleges that while operating the locomotive, the train's cab seat collapsed and broke. He claims that he was "severely injured," including injuries to his muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, shoulders, joints and back.
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Ohmart alleges Central Railroad used a "bad-ordered locomotive," which had a defective seat, and that the defendant failed to make sure the locomotive and its "appurtenances" were in proper condition.
The plaintiff alleges that in addition to his permanent and disfiguring injuries, he suffered the loss of "large sums of money from his unusual occupation." He also claims he has been forced to "expend large sums of money" for medical treatment and care as a result of the incident.
Ohmart seeks monetary relief of more than $50,000, plus interest and all other just relief. He is represented by John Kujawski and Zachary Pashea of Kujawski & Associates LLC in O'Fallon.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 20-L-0565