Missouri Appeals Court Upholds Record $12 Million Trial Verdict for Injured Rail Worker

As reported by Law.com, the Eastern District of Missouri Court of Appeals upheld the $12 million jury verdict obtained by Schlichter Bogard in 2022 on behalf of injured switchman Christopher Cole against his employer, Kansas City Southern Railway. The verdict now stands as one of the largest railroad verdicts in the history of St. Louis County.

In 2020, Mr. Cole was injured while aboard a freight train in Godfrey, Illinois, when he was struck by a sign placed dangerously close to the tracks. The resulting fall caused both of Mr. Cole’s legs to be crushed beneath the moving train. He was airlifted to BJC Medical Center in St. Louis, where he underwent emergency surgery and had both of his legs amputated. He was subsequently subjected to nine additional surgeries before being fitted for prosthetic limbs.

For additional information about Schlichter Bogard’s railroad injury practice group, please contact us at 866-583-2881 or via email at contact@uselaws.com.