Ratliff v. CSX Transportation, Inc.

Beasley, Chief Judge.

Ratliff was working for CSX as a railroad switchman in Ashland, Kentucky, when he injured his back throwing a manual switch that moved rails from one connection to another. He contended the switch jammed or stuck because the switch site was poorly drained, ultimately deteriorating the structural support under the railroad bed and causing it to depress, which altered the arrangement and operation of the switch. He also contended CSX’s inspections were inadequate to detect this condition because tests done on the switch were not performed with a railcar nearby, which…