HOUSTON — A Union Pacific railroad engineer is claiming the railroad's negligence after his boot became caught on a stairwell which caused him to stumble and fall and suffer numerous injuries.
Claude Ellis McFarlane filed a complaint June 16 in Harris County District Court against Union Pacific Railroad Company alleging negligence.
McFarlane was working as an electrician for Union Pacific at its Basin Yard on July 10, 2020, according to his suit. He alleges that as he was leaving the yard and coming down a set of stairs that led from the yard trailer office to the ground level, his boot became caught on a "structural recess." McFarlane claims he stumbled and fell into the stairwell and suffered orthopedic injuries including the impairment, movement and flexibility of his wrist, leg, neck, back and shoulders.
He alleges that Union Pacific failed to provide him with a reasonably safe place to work and failed to "follow industry norms, rules or standards" when maintaining and constructing the stairwell that was "not suitable for exterior high traffic." McFarlane also claims Union Pacific failed to design the stairs for employees such as himself who wear heeled boots while working and neglected to warn employees of the tripping hazard.
McFarlane seeks monetary relief of more than $1,000,000, trial by jury and all other just relief. He is represented by John Roven and Kevin Camp of Roven Camp PLLC in Houston.
Harris County District Court case number 2021-36259