Boyt v. Grand Trunk Western Railroad

Plaintiff, an employee of defendant railroad, brought this action under the Federal Employers’ liability Act (fela), 45 USC 51 et seq., § 2 of the Federal Safety Appliance Act (fsaa), 45 USC 2, and the Boiler Inspection Act, 45 USC 22 et seq., for a back injury he suffered while aligning a drawbar attached to a railroad car. Defendant appeals as of right from the trial court’s order denying its motion for a new trial or remittitur. We reverse and remand for a new trial.

Plaintiff was employed by defendant as a brakeman/switchman. On April 26, 1991, plaintiff and another employee, conductor…