Vermillion v. Burlington Northern Railroad

STEPHAN, Judge.

Defendant Burlington Northern Railroad Company appeals from a verdict and judgment against it in the amount of $785,000 in favor of plaintiff Richard Vermillion who was injured while performing his duties as a conductor of one of defendant’s trains. Plaintiff had been seated at a desk in the caboose of the train when the caboose suddenly derailed and came to a sudden stop from its previous speed of forty-five miles per hour causing plaintiff to be thrown violently to the floor. He suffered severe injuries to his arm, shoulder, and back which resulted in his being hospitalized…