Train engineer sues after cut of cars hits his train

NEW ORLEANS - A train engineer has filed a lawsuit against his employer after he was injured when a cut of cars collided into his stopped train.

Randall Harrell filed suit against The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Commission, d/b/a New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Co. on Feb. 16 in federal court in New Orleans.

The alleged incident occurred on Dec. 13, 2011 while Harrell was working as an engineer with NOPB. He states that he injured his neck, back, knee and ankle when a cut of cars slammed into the stopped locomotive upon which he was working.

The defendant is accused of negligence for failing to provide a reasonably safe place to work, failing to provide proper supervision, failing to properly train its employees, operating its trains in an unsafe manner, failing to keep a proper lookout and failing to push a cut of cars onto the correct track.

The plaintiff is asking for an award of damages for physical pain, mental anguish, physical impairment, discomfort, loss of wages, loss of wage earning capacity, medical expenses, interest and court costs.

Harrell is represented by C. Arlen Braud II of Braud & Gallagher in Mandeville and Sara Youngdahl of Youngdahl & Citti in Houston. A jury trial is requested.

U.S. District Judge Ivan L. R. Lemelle is assigned to the case.

Case No. 2:12-cv-00444