Schlichter Bogard Obtains Record $8.3 Million Settlement Award for Injured Railroad Worker

As reported by Missouri Lawyers Weekly, Schlichter Bogard & Denton has obtained an $8.3 million settlement on behalf of injured freight conductor Carlos Esteban—the largest known settlement obtained for a railroad worker in a Missouri case. The previous record of a $7 million settlement, for another conductor, was likewise obtained by Schlichter Bogard & Denton in 2016.

On May 11, 2018, Esteban, a freight railroad conductor employed by Kansas City Southern Railway Co., was injured while riding on the side of a rail car that was headed toward a loading dock. He was struck by stacked bales of paper waste that encroached over the loading dock wall and was thrown off the train, resulting in his body being crushed by the train. Esteban sustained severe injuries to his ribs, spine, and both legs—his right leg requiring amputation below the knee—and was placed in a medically induced coma. He subsequently underwent extensive surgery, rehabilitation, and physical therapy.

Speaking to Missouri Lawyers Weekly, Schlichter Bogard & Denton Senior Partner Nelson Wolff stated that “cutting corners and putting profits before safety nearly cost Carlos his life. Yet, he will bear lifelong scars and impairments. This very substantial settlement provides him with the financial security needed to provide for his future medical needs and afford[s] him necessary accommodations for the rest of his life.”

For more information about Schlichter Bogard & Denton’s Railroad Injury practice, please contact us at 1-800-873-5297 or via email at contact@uselaws.com.