SHREVEPORT – A railway electrician who suffered injuries while on the job alleges that his employer unlawfully prohibited him from working certain areas.
William Lightcap filed a lawsuit on March 10 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Shreveport Division against the Kansas City Southern Railway Co. over what he claims was wrongful treatment under the Federal Railway Safety Act (FRSA).
Lightcap asserts that he has been employed by the defendants for eight years, working in the diesel shop at defendant’s Shreveport location. He attests that in addition to his duties at the diesel shop, he also worked on and aboard defendant’s executive trains and special Christmas trains for five years. It was on a Christmas train on Dec. 2, 2014, when Lightcap allegedly suffered an injury to his rib/chest as he slipped while trying to fill the front sandbox on the locomotive.
Lightcap alleges that he reported his injury to defendant and, while receiving treatment, missed approximately one month of work. Upon returning to work, Lightcap was allegedly informed that he was no longer allowed to work on the executive and/or Christmas trains. He attests that he is protected under the FRSA and defendant took an adverse personnel action against him.
He is seeking reinstatement of his position on the executive and/or Christmas trains; back pay with interest; compensatory damages, interest and punitive damages; the costs of the suit and attorney's fees; and any other reward deemed just by the court. He is requesting a jury trial and is represented by Bristol Baxley from Rome, Arata & Baxley LLC in Pearland, Texas.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Shreveport Division Case number 5:16-cv-00329-SMH-KLH