PHILADELPHIA – A Pennsylvania man who worked in multiple capacities for a pair of major rail transport companies has begun legal action against them, claiming they violated the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) by putting him in a long-term career environment which caused him permanent injury.
Joseph Decock of Leechburg filed suit on Feb. 22 in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, against Consolidated Rail (Conrail) Corporation in Philadelphia and Norfolk Southern Railway Company, of Norfolk, Va.
“Plaintiff [Joseph] Decock was working as a trackman, assistant foreman of track, track foreman, orgotherm welder and cook within the course and scope of his employment for defendants for many years, and was overexposed to musculoskeletal stressors when he developed occupationally-induced musculoskeletal injuries and disease(s) to his shoulders, and on June 17, 2016, he underwent a right total shoulder arthroplasty,” the suit says.
The plaintiff says the severe physical injuries the defendants caused him are permanent and disabling, in addition to mental and emotional injuries. The plaintiff adds the defendants failed to provide him with a safe work environment, appropriate equipment, adequate supervision, tools and manpower.
The plaintiff is seeking damages, jointly and severally, in excess of the court’s jurisdictional minimum, plus costs and other remedies at law in equity, in addition to a trial by jury in this matter.
The plaintiff is represented by David L. Lockard of David L. Lockard & Associates, in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas case 170205296
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nickpennrecord@gmail.com