In Landmark Case, Amtrak Worker Wins $160K for Workplace Retaliation

Virginia (VA) Railroad Accident/FELA Lawyers
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Railroad Injury/FELA

9/2/2010
Richard N. Shapiro
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In Landmark Case, Amtrak Worker Wins $160K for Workplace Retaliation

Amtrak, the government-owned passenger rail corporation, must pay more than $160,000 in damages to a maintenance worker for retaliating against her for reporting an on-the job injury in violation of a federal law protecting injured railroad workers.

In late 2007, the woman lost her job after reporting that she hurt her ankle at a Seattle Amtrak facility. The worker was merely carrying garbage bags from a train platform to a pickup truck when she stepped down about 12 inches onto unstable gravel and sprained the ankle, according to the Seattle Times.

Amtrak claimed she was let go for failing to exercise "common sense" on the job. That didn't fly with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) which launched an investigation. While the investigation was pending, Amtrak converted the termination to a 30-day unpaid suspension.

According to OSHA, Amtrak retaliated against her reporting her ankle sprain. Amtrak appealed, but a U.S. Department of Labor administrative law judge ruled that Amtrak violated the 2007 amendment to the Federal Railroad Safety Act prohibiting harassment or intimidation for reporting on-duty injuries. This is the first retaliation case that has reached a judge since the law was revised to add the additional worker protections.

While OSHA had only fined Amtrak $20,000, the judge significantly upped the ante by awarding the worker $60,000 in compensatory damages, $100,000 in punitive damages, and about $3,000 in back pay. Amtrak was also order to scrub her personnel file of any reference to the disciplinary action.

Fredric A. Bremseth, the Amtrak worker's attorney, said that "This is an historic case that vindicates Congressional findings that railroads do in fact engage in retaliation and harassment of injured employees in order to keep them from reporting work-related injuries. We are very pleased for our client, and hope this landmark case will put railroads on notice that they can no longer intimidate their employees to keep them from reporting on-the-job injuries."

If you work in the railroad industry and been the victim of employer retaliation of this kind, remember that you have federal law legal protections and can pursue compensation relating to the retaliatory act. Determining whether or not you should file a retaliation claim is extremely important and you should consult with an experienced attorney right away to discuss what legal option is best for you and your family.

RH

Labels: Amtrak Congress damages employee FELA harassment injury intimidation Labor Department lawsuit OHSA railroad retaliation whistleblower worker workplace

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have handled hundreds of Federal Employers' Liability Act claims for railroad workers hurt or made ill while doing their rail jobs. We also have represented many people injured in train accidents. Please take a few moments to review our railroad injury case results. Our primary offices are in Virginia Beach and Hampton, VA, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia if you've been seriously hurt by someone else's carelessness.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been included among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008, and have been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2010. Fewer than 5 percent of lawyers are chosen for this professional honor.

In addition, we were the first injury law firm in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms. Our firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill. Our attorneys have even been included in the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009.

We would like to send you one of our free reports about railroad injury and FELA cases, including Dos & Don'ts When Injured at a Railroad: Your FELA Rights and What Railroad Claim Agents Agents Won't Tell You (But You Must Know).

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Virginia Beach, VA Personal Injury Attorneys
Virginia (VA) Personal Injury Lawyers
Specializing in Virginia Wrongful Death & Injury Law

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In Landmark Case, Amtrak Worker Wins $160K for Workplace Retaliation

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