Powers v. Illinois Central Gulf Railroad

This appeal is from an action brought by Steven Lynn Powers in the circuit court of St. Clair County under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (45 U.S.C. sec. 51 et seq. (1970)). The plaintiff complained of back injuries sustained while employed by the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad Company in Paducah, Kentucky. A jury which had been given an itemized verdict form returned a verdict for the plaintiff that totaled $300,000. The court’s instructions to the jury on damages had listed four elements of damage for the injuries, and the verdict form given to the jury was itemized as to those…