St. Louis Injury Lawyer Blog

A railroad employee for Union Pacific has filed an employment lawsuit after becoming injured on the job.

The man, who worked for the company for years as a brakeman and conductor, has been treated for injuries to his knee and spine, according to the lawsuit described in a St. Clair Record article. The lawsuit lays the blame on the injuries for years of negligence by Union Pacific, which allegedly failed to provide a safe work environment or take steps toward better ergonomics for employees.

The railroad lawsuit draws a link between the man's injuries and an inability to work or enjoy hobbies, mental anguish, lost wages, and a series of taxing medical bills. The case was filed in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Although industry and commerce in the United States benefit greatly from the efforts of railroad workers, working for the railroad can be a potentially dangerous proposition. According to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report, railroad workers are more than twice as likely to die on the job as other workers.

Continue reading "Union Pacific Employee from St. Clair County Claims Injuries Due to Negligence" »

A woman terminated from her job at an Alton, Illinois loan company has filed suit against her former employer, claiming that she was fired for having a hip replacement.

According to an article in the Madison County Record, the suit claims loss of wages and benefits between $50,000 and $70,000 as a result of losing employment. In addition, the plaintiff's attorney wrote that the plaintiff performed the tasks essential to her job, living up reasonably to the employer's expectations.

The firing followed a hospital visit, during which the plaintiff's need for a total hip replacement was confirmed. The plaintiff continued going to work and performing her duties despite being in severe pain. A week and a half after her hospitalization, with her hip surgery coming soon, the plaintiff was fired.

Upon being terminated, the plaintiff signed a separation agreement that stated she would continue to receive health insurance for four more weeks, which would have enabled her to be covered for surgery. Her former boss, however, canceled the health insurance, which the plaintiff's attorney claims violated the separation agreement.

According to the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, the number of employment discrimination lawsuits filed has steadily increased from 80,680 in 1997 to 99,922 in 2010 -- the largest quantity of cases listed on the EEOC website.

Continue reading "Alton Illinois Employer Sued for Failing to Pay Share of Medical Insurance" »

A woman who worked at Gateway Regional Medical Center in Granite City, Illinois has filed an age discrimination lawsuit against her former employer.

After working in the same facility for more than 30 years, the woman in her mid-fifties was permanently discharged from her duties. Not long after being let go, another man under the age of 40 was hired for the same position.

The suit alleges that the woman was mistreated at work due to her age and sex despite completing a satisfactory amount of work of reasonable quality. According to an article in the Madison County Record, the discriminatory firing has led to the plaintiff complaining of suffering and mental anguish, in addition to loss of wages and benefits.

The seven-count discrimination lawsuit was filed in Madison County Circuit Court in December.

Despite improved working conditions in recent decades, a Gallup Poll cited by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reported that 15% of Americans believed they had faced some form of discrimination at work, whether or not they had filed formal complaints. In addition, 18% of employment discrimination complaints were age-related.

Continue reading "Fired Gateway Regional Medical Center Employee Files Discrimination Suit" »