Standard Oil Co. v. Illinois Central Railroad

GODBOLD, Circuit Judge.

This is, hopefully, the last chapter in litigation arising from a railroad crossing collision in the town of Magnolia, Mississippi, between a train of Illinois Central (IC) and a truck-tank rig loaded with petroleum products and driven by Morris Pigott. The truck was owned by Weathersby, a bulk agent for Standard Oil. The tank and the petroleum materials carried in it were owned by Standard Oil. Eight persons, including Pi-gott, were killed and others injured in the collision and resulting explosions and fire.

Suits were filed in Mississippi state courts against IC,…