Train Accidents Help
November 26, 2008Judge upholds $48M FELA lawsuit verdict
A judge in California has approved a $48 million verdict awarded by the jury in a lawsuit filed by a injured railroad worker against his former employer. The verdict in Eric Doi’s lawsuit against the Union Pacific Railroad Company is the largest ever awarded under the Federal Employees Liability Act, which protects railroad workers who are injured on the job.
According to his FELA lawsuit, Doi was injured last year when the driver of a company truck in which he was riding became distracted, causing the vehicle to flip and roll onto a nearby highway. Doi suffered serious injuries that left him a quadriplegic.
As a result of his injuries, Doi now requires round-the-clock care and physical rehabilitation. He cannot perform everyday tasks such as using the bathroom or eating a meal without help from another person.
Union Pacific was ruled to be liable in the case because under FELA law, any negligence on the part of an employee constitutes negligence by the railroad itself.