News & Calendar

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Joins With
Other Judges to Affirm $750,000 Verdict
For CSX Engineer in West Virginia

On April 23, 2008, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor joined two other judges from the United States Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in affirming a $750,000 verdict in favor of Mark Benson, a CSX engineer who suffered a chemical inhalation injury. The appeal followed a contentious trial where CSX denied that it was negligent and contended that Benson's slight exposure to hydrochloric acid vapor was too small to cause lung damage. CSX spent nearly $50,000 on "experts" who were called to
support CSX's claims. »Read More

Hunegs, LeNeave & Kvas Win $628,000
Verdict For CSX Maintenance of Way Mechanic

On December 7, 2006, a jury in Syracuse, New York awarded $628,000 to Clifford "Randy" Graham, in a claim under the Federal Employers' Liability  Act. The verdict followed a week long trial and a three year legal battle that included one appeal by CSX even before the trial began. »Read More

HLK FELA Attorney William Kvas Obtains
$700,000 Verdict for CSX Engineer

On January 20, 2005, a Cabell County Jury in Huntington, West Virginia awarded $700,000 to Steven Miller, a CSX engineer, in a claim under the Federal Employers' Liability Act. Miller, who suffered bronchiolitis from a 10 minute exposure to diesel exhaust, claimed that poor locomotive maintenance caused his injury. CSX denied responsibility and tried to blame the injury on a pre-existing condition. »Read More

HLK FELA Attorney Obtains $300,000
Verdict for BNSF Fireman & Oiler

On May 13, 2005, a jury in Denver, Colorado awarded over $300,000 to Steven Hopp, a laborer, in a claim under the Federal Employers' Liability Act. Hopp sustained neck and back injuries when he struck sand piles in the middle of a roadway. The accident occurred near the BNSF Alliance Facility. The railroad denied it was responsible and claimed that the accident occurred on an abandoned state highway and the sand piles had been dumped by the state of Nebraska. »Read More

HLK Obtains $668,100 Verdict
For Union Pacific Conductor
Exposed to Diesel Exhaust

On October 27, 2005, a Douglas County jury in Omaha, Nebraska awarded $668,100 to Albert Kanyer, a Union Pacific conductor from Las Vegas, Nevada, in a claim under the Federal Employers' Liability Act. The jury deliberated over four days, before rendering the verdict which ended a long trial. Kanyer a 32-year railroad veteran, was disabled and alleged that exposure to diesel exhaust contributed to his disability. Union Pacific denied any responsibility. »Read More

Minot Anhydrous Leak Could be Largest on Planet

Hunegs, LeNeave & Kvas laid the ground work for recovery of compensation for the entire community of Minot after a 2002 train derailment due to previous work on a derailment just five miles away occurring in 1996. The exact same facts of neglectful inspection and maintenance practices along with  failure to utilize proper-sized rail led to the second catastrophic derailment in 2002 when over 100,000 gallons of Anhydrous Amonia was released into the air just west of Minot at 1:30 am on a dark, still night in January when temperatures were below zero for the first time that year.

The result was predictable. Rails tend to shrink and pull apart at locations where it is cracked or damaged when a train crosses over a weak spot. The lawyers at HLK worked diligently to prove what they knew from years of experience. The result was a record setting confidential settlement for the conductor on the crew and other multi-million dollar settlements for other seriously injured clients of HLK. Attorney and Designated Counsel Cortney S. LeNeave prosecuted the claim of the conductor and numerous other plaintiffs along with the help from the attorneys and staff of HLK. Read more about the Minot Derailment
 


IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM TEAMSTERS
CANADA RAIL CONFERENCE MAINTENANCE
OF WAY EMPLOYEES DIVISION

REGARDING CP RAIL SAFETY CONCERNS

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