BELLEVILLE — An engineer with The Alton & Southern Railway company claims unsuitable equipment caused him to suffer injuries.
James P. Williams filed a complaint Aug. 4 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against The Alton & Southern Railway Company, alleging negligence.
According to the complaint, Williams was working as an engineer for the defendants when he allegedly suffered injuries while working in the Gateway Yard in East St. Louis on Aug. 11, 2018. Specifically, Williams claims he was attempting to operate a "pin lifter" to separate two locomotives when he injured his back, neck, left shoulder and other parts of his body. He claims the locomotives and pin lifters would not stick properly.
Williams alleges the defendants failed to provide him with safe and suitable equipment to perform his job, failed to warn him of the hazardous conditions of the locomotives and pin lifters and failed to maintain the locomotives and pin lifters. Williams also alleges he was not given the necessary assistance to safely perform the work.
Williams seeks compensation of more than $50,000 and all other just relief. He is represented by Edward Szewczyk of Pratt & Tobin PC in East Alton.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 21-L-0735