TYLER — An engineer is suing railroad cars repair facilities, alleging negligence led to him being exposed to toxic substances.
John Collins of Teague filed a complaint April 19 in the Tyler Division for the Eastern District of Texas against BNSF Railway Company formerly known as Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company, alleging violation of the Federal Employers' Liability Act.
According to the complaint, between 1997 and 2011, during his employment with Burlington Northern, Collins was exposed to various toxic substances and carcinogens that contributed to his development of colon and liver cancer. As a result, the suit says, Collins has suffered emotional distress, fear of death and incurred medical expenses.
The plaintiff alleges the defendant failed to take any effective action to reduce, modify or eliminate certain job duties, equipment practices so as to minimize or eliminate an employee's exposure to toxic materials and carcinogens.
The plaintiff seeks trial by jury, judgment of more than $150,000, plus costs of court and all just and proper relief. He is represented by attorney Shawn M. Sassaman of Bern Cappelli in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.
Tyler Division for the Eastern District of Texas Case number 6:17-cv-00224