A Rock Island County, Iowa, jury awarded a former Iowa Interstate Railroad train conductor $33 million in damages Thursday (March 25) for an accident in April 2007 that resulted in the amputation of both of his legs, the Quad City Times reports.
Andrew Schulte sued Iowa Interstate Railroad after he underwent the double-amputation and suffered the loss of his bowels. The accident occurred in a Rock Island rail yard.
(Schulte is a retired member of Local 258, Rock Island, Ill.)
The jury awarded Schulte $10 million each for loss of a normal life and disfigurement, $6.3 million for pain and suffering, $4.2 million for medical expenses and $2.5 million for the value of his earnings and benefits.
The accident happened while Schulte was trying to pull a pin on a rail car while walking alongside a train on a switching lead, the suit stated.
According to the suit, the pin lifter stuck, causing Schulte to trip and fall, at which point he was struck and run over by a rail car.
The suit argued that Iowa Interstate Railroad failed to maintain a safe place to work, failed to have a proper lookout, violated safety rules, failed to properly train Schulte and failed to properly construct, inspect and maintain the rail yard walkway, among other allegations.
Both of Schultes legs were amputated, with the right leg reattached above the knee to the hip, the suit stated. He also has undergone multiple surgeries, the suit added.
(This item appeared in the Quad City Times March 26, 2010.)
