For years, railroads have argued that a worker’s pursuit of collective bargaining agreement arbitration constitutes an “election of remedies” defense to a Federal Rail Safety Act claim. But after being rejected by half a dozen judges, that bogus defense was on life support. Now, in a devastating decision, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has
Federal Rail Safety Act
FRSA Forces Railroad To Give Injured Employee Return To Work Physical
By Charlie Goetsch on
Posted in Federal Rail Safety Act
A recent decision against Amtrak clarifies the Federal Rail Safety Act rights of injured employees to return to work over a railroad’s objection.
After Amtrak locomotive engineer Jonette Nagra reported a work related injury, her treating neurosurgeon kept her out of work on temporary total disability. Eventually her doctor released her to return to work…
Federal Court Decision Analyzes “False” and “Late” Injury Reports
By Charlie Goetsch on
Posted in Federal Rail Safety Act
An important district court decision spells out how to analyze discipline based on allegedly "false" or "late" injury reports. And also you can add it to the growing list of cases rejecting the hapless "election of remedies" defense still being raised by railroads in Federal Rail Safety Act cases.
Election of Remedies
After Track Department…
ALERT: FRSA Trumps Railroad Attendance Policy Discipline!
By Charlie Goetsch on
Posted in Federal Rail Safety Act
It’s official: railroad employees who follow their treating doctor’s orders not to work cannot be disciplined for those absences, even if the absence is due to an off-duty medical condition. Why? Because Bala v. PATH now is the law of the land, having just been affirmed in full by the highest appeals tribunal in…
The Filing Of A FRSA Complaint Is a VERY Protected Activity
By Charlie Goetsch on
Posted in Federal Rail Safety Act
Question: What is the surest way for a railroad to get hit with punitive damages?
Answer: Base a disciplinary charge on an employee’s FRSA complaint.
Railroads that have tried this bone headed move are now 0-3, and OSHA has slammed them with punitive damages every time.
The latest example comes from Pan Am…
Use Of Safety Rules To Discipline Injured Workers Warrants Punitive Damages
By Charlie Goetsch on
Posted in Federal Rail Safety Act
Every railroad has them. Vague safety rules that are triggered only when a worker reports an injury. In a blistering Decision, a veteran Administrative Law Judge spells out why the use of such rules mandate the award of Federal Rail Safety Act punitive damages.
Union Pacific employee Brian Petersen was leaning against his car in…
Safety Trumps Discipline Thanks to FRSA
By Charlie Goetsch on
Posted in Federal Rail Safety Act
The message of the Federal Rail Safety Act is clear: "safety trumps discipline." And until railroads fully embrace that new reality, the number of FRSA complaints will continue at a record pace.
Williams v. Grand Trunk Western Railroad is the latest confirmation of this new reality. In addition to elucidating the employee friendly standards governing…
The FRSA Right Not To Work When Medically Unfit
By Charlie Goetsch on
Posted in Federal Rail Safety Act
When airline pilots feel medically unfit to fly, they have a right to stand down and seek medical attention without any adverse consequences. Thanks to the Federal Rail Safety Act, locomotive engineers (and all other railroad workers) now enjoy the same right to protect themselves, their co-workers, and the public.
When Locomotive Engineer Lonnie Smith…
FRSA Election of Remedies Defense Fails Again
By Charlie Goetsch on
Posted in Federal Rail Safety Act
Yet another federal district court judge has rejected rail management’s election of remedies defense to Federal Rail Safety Act whistleblower retaliation complaints. You can add Ratledge v. Norfolk Southern Railway Company to the growing list of federal court decisions dope slapping the railroads who raise such a hapless argument: see Solis, Reed, and…
FRSA Prohibits Railroad Interference With Medical Treatment
By Charlie Goetsch on
Posted in Federal Rail Safety Act
Thanks to the Federal Rail Safety Act, railroads can no longer interfere with the medical treatment of injured employees. That fact is being reinforced with punitive damage awards against railroads who ignore this new reality.
In the landmark decision of Santiago v. Metro North Railroad, the Administrative Review Board held that FRSA "Section…