Supreme Court Allows Damages Suit Against CSX Railroad

The Supreme Court says a man can use a federal law to collect damages against a railroad.

The high court on Thursday ruled in a 5-4 decision that CSX Transportation, Inc. should compensate Robert McBride for an accident under the Federal Employees Liability Act.

McBride sued CSX after being hurt while working on a train between Evansville, Ind., and Nashville, Tenn. A judge told the jury that CSX “caused or contributed” to the accident if their negligence in any way caused the accident. CSX says that was the wrong instruction under the FELA, saying McBride had to prove the injury happened “in whole or in part” from their negligence.

Lower courts agreed with McBride and the high court confirmed their ruling.

The case is CSX Transportation Inc. v. McBride, 10-235.