$5.4M Award for slip, fall on fuel spill

https://pninjurylaw.com/parente-news-feb14-2017/

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CHICAGOLAWBULLETIN.COM // In the News

Volume 163, No. 31 // TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

BY LAURAANN WOOD Law Bulletin staff writer

$5.445M net jury verdict against Union Pacific Rail Road for injured an
railroad worker brought under FELA.

37 year-old diesel mechanic was attempting to loosen a fitting on a fuel pre-heater with a pipe wrench
while standing in leaking diesel fuel when the fighting broke free causing him to twist and sustain an inguinal hernia along with a lumbar disk injury.

Plaintiff returned to work in a modified duty, but before having
back surgery was unfortunately in a serious car accident which fractured
his right ankle.

We obtained a $2.95M settlement for this man for his ankle injury.

Once he healed from the ankle fracture he returned to a spine surgeon and underwent a two-level lumbar fusion surgery on his back.

Union Pacific offered $50K during the start of the trial.

The jury awarded the entire $9M we requested of them and reduced it by 39.5% contributory negligence on the part of the mechanic, resulting in the net verdict of $5.445M or more than 100x the settlement offer at trial.