CSX Transportation faces FELA claim by Pa. worker

A Pennsylvania man is suing his employer, CSX Transportation, for

$150,000, over injuries the plaintiff allegedly sustained while on the job.

William M. Conrad, who resides in Altoona, Pa., filed suit in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia on Aug. 22 against the railroad company over an Aug. 26, 2011, incident at the CSX yard in Cumberland, MD, during which the plaintiff claims he sustained a host of physical injuries while traversing the worksite.

Conrad claims he was walking from a designated walkway to the parking lot when he fell into a depression in the parking lot that was apparently obstructed from view.

The plaintiff says he was unaware of the depression because of a rail that existed at the end of the walkway that blocked him from being able to see the sunken part of the ground.

After walking over the rail and stepping into the depression, Conrad attempted to break his fall by extending his right hand and arm, but ended up landing hard, sustaining a variety of bodily injuries in the process.

The plaintiff claims he sustained injuries to his shoulder, hand, arm, neck, back and hip.

He also says he suffered post-traumatic cervical spine strain and sprain, muscle spasms, headaches, and that he continues to experience bodily pain and anguish.

The defendant is accuses of negligence for failing to inspect the area where the plaintiff was required to walk, failing to discover and ultimately fix unsafe conditions in the area, failing to discover the depression in the parking lot, and failing to warn the plaintiff of the unsafe and dangerous conditions.

CSX Transportation is accused of violating the Federal Employers’ Liability Act.

The plaintiff is being represented by attorney Mitchell A. Kaye, of the Bala Cynwyd, Pa. law firm Coffey Kaye Myers & Olley.

 

The federal case number is 2:13-cv-04907-CDJ.