NEW ORLEANS — An Orleans Parish woman is suing Amtrak, alleging her injuries were caused by negligence.
Ruby Howard filed a lawsuit June 22 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against National Railroad Passenger Corp., doing business as Amtrak, alleging negligence in failing to provide a reasonably safe means for boarding the train.
According to the complaint, on July 3, 2015, while Howard, an elderly woman of 73, was attempting to board Train No. 20 at the Amtrak Union Passenger Terminal in New Orleans, the Parish of Orleans without assistance when she fell onto the steps of the train striking her body on the steps, resulting in injuries to both knees and her back, plus pain and suffering, disability and medical expenses.
The plaintiff alleges Amtrak failed to reasonably assist its passengers in boarding the train, failed to refrain from rushing passengers, and failed to implement reasonable policies and procedures to instruct its employees on proper procedures in assisting boarding passengers.
Howard seeks a trial by jury, damages reasonable plus interest, attorney fees, costs and all general and equitable relief. She is represented by attorneys Al M. Thompson Jr. of Thompson, Gobsons & Westholz in New Orleans, and Robert D. Haik of Haik & Haik Law Offices in New Orleans.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana Case number 2:16-cv-11232