Norfolk & Western Railway Co. v. Baker

Donald F. Baker brought this action against Norfolk and Western Railway Company (the Railway), to recover damages for injuries he sustained when a door on one of the Railway’s boxcars *529fell on him as he was unloading flour consigned to his employer. A jury trial resulted in a verdict in favor of Baker in the sum of $118,000, on which the trial court entered judgment. On appeal, the Railway argues that the evidence fails to show negligence on its part that was a proximate cause of Baker’s injuries.

The evidence at trial showed that Burlington Northern Railroad, the initial carrier, delivered a…