Uhrhan v. Union Pacific Railroad

Plaintiff, David J. Uhrhan, brought an action in the circuit court of St. Clair County to recover damages for personal injuries he sustained while employed as a switchman by defendant, the Union Pacific Railroad Company (the Railroad). Plaintiff claimed that his injuries resulted from the Railroad’s negligence in failing to provide him with a safe place to work. He sought recovery under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (45 U.S.C.A. §51 et seq. (West 1986)), and a verdict was ultimately returned in his favor following a jury trial.

The jury determined that plaintiff had sustained $17,000 in…