BNSF Railway Co. v. Seats Inc.

OPINION

CATTANI, Judge:

¶ 1 This appeal addresses whether the Locomotive Inspection Act (“LIA”), 49 U.S.C. § 20701 et seq., preempts a state-law claim by a railway company alleging that a seat manufacturer failed to comply with the federal standard of care for manufacturing and installing locomotive seats. We conclude that although LIA establishes uniform federal safety regulations and preempts claims premised on a state-specific standard of care, it does not preempt claims based on the federal standard. Accordingly, we vacate the order of dismissal in this case and remand for further…