NEW ORLEANS – A railroad tank car switch conductor alleges that a railroad construction and maintenance company is liable for the injuries he sustained while on the job.
Reginald Ponds and Maryl K. Wright, his spouse, filed a lawsuit on March 7 in the U.S. Court for the Eastern District Court of Louisiana against Force Corp., citing negligence.
Ponds asserts that he was a employed by SGS Petroleum Services Corp. as one of its railroad tank car operators and was contracted by Occidental Chemical Corp. to work at Occidental’s chemical plant in Hahnville. He alleges that defendant Force was also contracted by Occidental to perform railroad track inspection and maintenance.
On Aug. 23, 2015, while allegedly performing his duties on a railroad tank car, Ponds suffered a fall when the tank car shook due to the track's condition. Ponds allegedly fell several feet to the ground and sustained injuries to his lower back, left shoulder and left-side ribs, as well as traumatic injuries to his right foot, which required amputation of his right small toe. Ponds alleges that defendant, through its employees and agents, negligently and/or carelessly failed to exercise reasonable care when inspecting and maintaining the tracks. He claims to have undergone numerous surgical treatments, physical and mental pain, as well as economic loss for lost wages, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of fringe benefits, permanent disability, loss of earning capacity and unpaid medical expenses.
He is now suing for damages including compensatory damages, together with legal interests, the costs of the suit, and any and all equitable relief deem proper by the court. He is requesting a jury trial and is represented by Joseph M. Miller, Benjamin B. Saunders and Carisa German-Oden from Davis, Saunders, Miller & Oden in Mandeville.
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana Case number 2:16-cv-01935-JCZ-MBN