Union Pacific Railroad v. Williams

Seymour Williams, a former employee with Union Pacific Railroad Company, brought a Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) claim against Union Pacific based on an injury Williams suffered at a train derailment site. See 45 U.S.C. § 51. The issue is whether the trial court erred in refusing to submit Union Pacific’s proposed foreseeability instruction in the jury charge. The jury held for Williams, and the trial court rendered judgment on the verdict. The court of appeals affirmed and held that the trial court properly refused Union Pacific’s proposed instruction because it confused…