Locomotive Lottery

Woman struck by train sues railroad (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

A Jeannette woman who was slightly injured after being struck by a train while walking along railroad tracks sued Norfolk Southern Corp. Thursday for failing to warn pedestrians that trains travel on tracks.

Patricia M. Frankhouser, of 910 Scott Ave., is seeking an unspecified amount in excess of $30,000 from the Norfolk, Va., rail transport company for the Jan. 6 incident that left her with a broken finger, cuts on her hand and pain, according to the suit.

Greensburg attorney Harry F. Smail Jr., who represents Frankhouser, didn’t return a call seeking comment.

Within the filing, he argues that the railroad was negligent for failing to post signs warning “of the dangers of walking near train tracks and that the tracks were actively in use.”

I’d argue that any client too stupid to pull of a proper self-inflicted locomotive injury isn’t worth representing.

hat tip – King of Fools

update – More Darwinian trainspotting, this time with more substantive results!

A French antinuclear protester was killed yesterday in eastern France when his leg was severed by a train carrying radioactive waste to Germany, officials said.

oh.. sweet irony…

FILED UNDER: Law and the Courts, ,
Kate McMillan
About Kate McMillan
Kate McMillan is the proprietor of small dead animals, which has won numerous awards including Best Conservative Blog and Best Canadian Blog. She contributed nearly 300 pieces to OTB between November 2004 and June 2007. Follow her on Twitter @katewerk.

Comments

  1. McGehee says:

    You think that’s frivolous, the taxpayers here in Coweta County (Ga.) are being threatened with a lawsuit over a $25 shortfall between the county employees’ daily travel meal allowance, and what the plaintiff-to-be actually spent on his meal.

    The threats of a lawsuit are coming from — get this — a county judge. He spent $60 knowing he would only be reimbursed $35. And he’s refused two offers from individual county officials to reimburse him out of their own pockets.

    Can you say “lack of proper judicial temperament”? I’ve got tar, and I’m taking bids on the feathers.

  2. James Joyner says:

    And, frankly, it’s hard to spend $60 in a day on food in Georgia. Not so much in D.C.