Hval v. Southern Pacific Transportation Co.

Plaintiff sought to recover under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) for injuries he sustained while working as a car inspector, or carman, on one of defendant’s trains. Plaintiff was injured when a car released by one of defendant’s switchmen from the main track in defendant’s trainyard passed onto a side track, Track No. 3, and collided with a string of cars that plaintiff was inspecting. The accident occurred because the switch controlling Track No. 3 was open, or lined toward Track No. 3, rather than closed.

The task of properly lining up switches is assigned to switchmen. Company…