PHILADELPHIA – A C&S Maintainer for Amtrak has accused the train transportation company of violating the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) by not providing a safe workplace, which he says led to his electrocution and related serious injuries.
Thomas McNasby of West Chester filed suit in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas on Dec. 27 versus National Railroad Passenger Corporation (doing business as “Amtrak”), of Philadelphia.
On June 12, 2017, McNasby states he was working on Track 4 at Amtrak’s Paxon Interlocking in the Overbrook section of Philadelphia, in furtherance of interstate commerce. In the course of his work, McNasby was changing a pair of neutral leads between two impedance bonds when he was electrocuted. The electric shock left McNasby with high-voltage electrical burns to his hand, back and lower extremity.
Immediately following the accident, McNasby was transported by ambulance to the emergency room at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, with third-degree electrical burns to his left lower extremity, abdominal wall, lower back and electrical burns to his left hand. Upon arrival to the hospital, McNasby underwent wound debridement to his lower left extremity and left flank.
He would later undergo more surgeries, including for wound debridement, skin grafts, left knee arthroscopy irrigation and debridement, battled a staph infection, participated in physical and occupational therapy and has been diagnosed by a practicing psychiatrist with anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
McNasby claims he has not been able to work for Amtrak since the accident, and that Amtrak failed to install a dedicated impedance bond for the heater station (as is done at State Interlocking and Shore Interlocking) failed to provide training in the AMT-2 classes regarding heater stations and their grounding to the impedance bond neutral leads and failed to train C&S employees on the traction return system, among other charges.
For one count of FELA violation, the plaintiff is seeking damages in excess of $50,000, plus interest, costs, fees and such other and further relief the Court and jury shall deem appropriate.
The plaintiff is represented by William L. Myers Jr. of The Myers Firm, in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas case 171204020
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nickpennrecord@gmail.com