Rail Workers Sue UP For Asbestos Exposure
Seven men who worked for Union Pacific filed a lawsuit against the railroad for exposing them to asbestos and asbestos-containing products for many years.
Filing suit are: Larry G. Moore, Raymond M. Edwards, Prince A. Hardin, Willie D. Scroggins, Robert L. Vineyard, Don L. Ward and Jerry G. Woody. The suit was filed in the Eastern District of Texas, Beaumont Division.
The men worked from 1971 to 2011 at various times as brakeman, switchman or conductor. The lawsuit accuses UP of:
- Failing to provide a safe place to work
- Continuing to use products that contained asbestos despite knowing its health dangers
- Failing to warn employees of the presence of asbestos and asbestos-containing products
- Failing to provide appropriate respirators
- Failing to provide medical examinations for asbestos
- Failing to monitor the men medically
- Violating its own rules regarding asbestos-containing materials
- Violating the Locomotive Boiler Inspection Act for not providing locomotives and parts that were in appropriate and safe condition
UP is being sued as successor-in-interest to the Southern Pacific Transportation Company, the St. Louis Southwestern Railway Company and the Chicago & Northwestern Transportation Company.
The workers are requesting that the court see that they are paid for:
- Medical expenses
- Mental anguish
- Physical pain and suffering
- Fear of cancer
- Physical impairment
- Court costs
- Interest
The plaintiffs are asking for a jury trial. Their lawyer is J. Kirkland Sammons of Sammons & Berry PC in Houston.
Source: The Southeast Texas Record
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