It is no secret that railroads have tried with all their king’s horsemen and all their king’s men (and women) to send to the dust bin of history the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA), considered the best friend of rail workers in forcing carriers to improve workplace safety. That 1908 law allows railroaders to recover [...]
Supreme Court declines to weaken FELA
June 24, 2011
WASHINGTON — In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court June 23 declined to tighten the standard of proof injured rail workers must demonstrate to win an award under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA). The ruling is a significant victory for injured rail workers. The FELA — a railroader’s most cherished workplace safety assurance — [...]
Supreme Court to hear attack on FELA
December 6, 2010
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court will hear an argument by CSX in 2011 challenging standards for rail workers bringing lawsuits under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA), reports Bloomberg. The decision could affect future FELA cases. The specific case to be heard, reports Bloomberg, involves a CSX engineer who won a $184,250 FELA award for [...]
Proving negligence under FELA
May 12, 2006
FELA Update By Mark Allen Coordinator of UTU Designated Legal Counsel The Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) was enacted by Congress in 1908 to give railroad employees the right, under federal law, to recover damages from their employers for injuries occurring at work. However, generally, there must be proof of negligence on the part of [...]
