The Straight Track Roundhouse:
A topical index of the Hoey & Farina Newsletter for Railroaders

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING INDEX SECTIONS: Benefits & Financial Recovery Safety Claim Management H&F Service / Staff Court Issues & Rulings Union History / Information Health - general  Health - Work related To quickly find a targeted issue: Depress "Ctrl+F" on your keyboard Type your search query in the pop-up box Hit "find" to search the titles If you cannot find the information you are searching for, please contact us toll-free at 1-888-425-1212 or send your question via email and we will pass along all information related to your area of interest.

BENEFITS & FINANCIAL RECOVERY If Tomorrow Never Comes What Do I Tell My Family? Part I | Part II Prior Medical Conditions New RRB Rates Effective July 1, 2004 RRB & Taxes FELA 102: Understanding Damages & A FELA Claim Preparing For The Unthinkable: Death Claims & The FELA Railroads & Riverboats Structured Settlements: A Way To Secure Your Future FELA 101: Understanding the Legal Requirements to Bring An FELA Claim What Is The FELA?: Understanding The Federal Law Governing Railroad Workers Crime Rarely Pays: The FELA & Criminal Acts Against Railroad Workers How The New Law Affects RRB and Financing Supreme Court Raises Bar For Disabled Hurt, Broke and Fired! After Wild Ride, HF&D Helps To Snare Victory For Kentucky Railroader Recovery For Emotional Injuries Returning To Work While Receiving Railroad Retirement Benefits Supporting Your Family On $1,000 A Month Your Medical Insurance Benefits Disability Benefits How Much Is My Case Worth?  Part I | Part II  "Small" Cases Matter Too Payment of Your Medical Bills

CLAIM MANAGEMENT Off Track Vehicle Accident Protection 'Tis The Season To Be Careful No Costume Needed: A Scary Story For Halloween Deal or No Deal: The Railroad's Game Even A Champion Has To Practice, Practice, Practice Defense Medical Examinations Surveillance and The FELA Test Your FELA Knowledge Keep Your Family Informed An Accident Waiting To Happen Are You Aware of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Never Put Off Reporting An Injury The Personal Injury Report – A Deadly Weapon In The Railroad’s Arsenal Weathering The Storm Do You Copy? On the importance of getting a copy of your injury report In Your Best Interest I Released What??? A Need To Know Basis: Medical Bill Payments and the Injured Railroad Worker "Don't Worry": Words of Comfort or Deception? Fear Factor III: Report All Injuries Don't Be A Fool With A Railroad Rule Completing The Personal Injury Report -- The Right Way Like Wine Fine, Settle No Claim Before Its Time Top Ten Lies From Railroad Claim Agents Bankruptcy and the FELA (Part 2) Talking To Your Doctor Unclogging The FELA When Is It Advantageous To Deal With A Claim Agent? The Railroad In The Exam Room Protecting Your Rights At The ER Clearing The Air On The Duty To Mitigate Damages After I'm Hurt at Work, Why Should I Do Vocational Rehabilitation? On The Duty To Mitigate Damages Bankruptcy and the FELA New Patient Privacy Rules: What Do The New Federal Health Privacy Regulations Mean For Railroaders and Their Families Winning The Railroad Lottery: Learn How Not To Play The Railroad's Game & What Not To Do If Injured On The Job Protecting Railroaders from Retaliatory Discharge Retaliatory Discharge & The FELA Use Em Up & Spit Em Out: Negligent Assignment & The FELA Railroader Discovers The "Discovery Rule" --  The Hard Way Working The Job & Getting Sued:  Understanding The Issue of Employee Negligence The ADA & Seniority Rights Creating The Paper Trail Smile! You're On Candid Camera: Part I | Part II  The Fear Factor -- Part I | Part II  What Happens If The Railroad's Outside Contractor Creams Me? Protecting The Shove With Your Own Vehicle When You Snooze You Lose (Your Rights Concerning Medical Care) Advice For Encounters With Re-Hab Nurses Importance of Designated Counsel & Independent Doctors Durable Power of Attorneys Statute of Limitations New Policy For Drug Testing: "Empty Your Pockets" The Case Against Light Duty Giving Statements To The Railroad Dealing With The Claim Agent Resuming Gainful Employment Harassment & Intimidation - Policy Changes Keeping A Diary Surveillance Can Ruin Your Case Retaining Counsel For On-Site Investigation After An Injury The FELA & Motor Vehicles Completing A Personal Injury Report What's The Claim Agent's Job? First Steps Toward Recovery Of A Claim Importance of Preserving Evidence After An Injury Emergency Response Checklist and Durable Power of Attorney form Use Of Cab Companies by the Railroads Working For The Railroad Off The Property

COURT ISSUES / RULINGS Jury's "Not Guilty" Verdict Overturned By Federal Trial Judge Engineer Awarded $1,390,000.00 For Spinal Injuries Resulting From Locomotive Vibration Railroads Wrong Regarding FMLA A Second Bite of An Apple: Voiding a Signed Release Important Verdict For Maintenance Of Way Worker Affirmed By Eighth Circuit Court Of Appeals The Venue Menu: What It Means For Injured Railroaders Railroad Shoots Itself In the Caboose on Appeal Railroad Loses To H&F On Appeal Retaliatory Discharge -- A Court Strikes Back BNSF offers low settlement to Section Laborer,  Hoey & Farina Litigates to Verdict in Iowa Railroad Punished For Destroying Evidence FRA To Railroads: Stop Harassing Railroaders Farina Beats BNSF On Sole Cause Defense Big Supreme Court Victory For Railroaders  Part I | Part II  A Free Ride for Bad Doctors FELA Under Attack? Norfolk Southern Railway “Impeached” By Felony Conviction Trouble in Paradise: Hawaiian airline accused of violating the Railway Labor Act by hacking into union activist’s password-protected website Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen v. Virginia Ex Rel. Virginia State Bar: U.S. Supreme Court case guaranteeing right to Designated Legal Counsel Victory At Last: Tyrrell v NS Railway Seniority Upheld Against Disability Rights Are Federal Appellate Judges Biased Against Plaintiffs? Forum Non Conveniens: Big Win For Plaintiffs On Where Lawsuits Will Be Tried Extraterritorial Application of the FELA  Part I | Part II  Minimum Track Clearance (Tyrrell v. NS) Part I | Part II § 60 of the FELA: Part II |  Part I

HEALTH - General Understanding Back Pain:  Getting It Evaluated & Treated How to Enjoy The Holidays (And NOT Gain Weight!) Cleaning Up The Confusion Over Cholesterol Back Pain Stroke Heart Attack AMA's Heart & Stroke News Misleading Prescription Drug Ads Tests & Care For Prostate Cancer How Much Exercise Is Enough? Exercise Prescriptions

HEALTH - Work Related Summertime Is Bug Season Complex Regional Pain Syndrome PTSD & Railroad Workers Railroad Employees Medical Treatment Act Railroad Engineers At "Substantially" Increased Risk For Back, Neck and Shoulder Problems – New Study If It's Not A Slip, Trip or Fall, What Is It? Biomechanics of Walking on Railroad Ballast The Creosote Threat Why Does It Still Hurt? Understanding Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Oh My Aching Wrist! Carpal Tunnel Syndrome & The FELA New Study Reveals Risks from Harmful Vibrations For Engineers Traumatic Brain Injury: Not A Simple Diagnosis Traumatic Experiences Can Have Long Lasting Effects On Mental Health Medical Examinations & Occupational Disability Asbestos: Diagnosing and Litigating The Diesel Exhaust Threat Railroaders On Heightened Alert During Peak Lyme Disease Season Educating Your Doctor Prior Injuries & Accidents Aggravation of a Pre-Existing Condition Asbestos: Railroads' Quiet Killer The Company Doctor

UNION HISTORY / INFORMATION  Labor Day 2006 Labor Unions Still Work For Everyone Celebrate Railroading On July 4th Prepare To Be Heard! Workplace Privacy & Personnel Records Senate to Consider Pro-Management Changes to Railway Labor Act of 1926 Freight Railroads Hopeful for 2003, Passenger Rail Expects Upheaval BNSF Opens Chicago ‘Logistics Park’ To Consolidate Intermodal Operations Intermodal Set To Be Railroads’ Biggest Revenue Growth What Every Union Officer Should Know Honoring The Father, The Man & The Job The Ludlow Massacre Our Steel Driving Hero The Real Meaning Of Labor Day The Importance Of Attending Union Meetings Debs - First Rail Unionist Railroad Logic - Standard US Rail Right To Designated Legal Counsel Part I | Part II

SAFETY  Getting On Moving Equipment Inspector General Finds Lax FRA Enforcement New FRA Rules on Locomotive Cab Noise FRA: CSX Most Dangerous Railroad Shining The Light On Safety Standards For Signalmen Know Your Equipment: Reporting defective equipment protects you and your fellow railroaders "I Didn't See Anything" Terror Measures Ruffle Railroads Providing Notice of Unsafe Conditions and Defective Equipment To The Railroad Terrorism Indicators For Railroaders Heat Order After Amtrak Derailment Slows Rail Service On CSX Tracks Best Practices For Reducing Injuries New NTSB Tank Car Loading Regulations Illinois Adopts Strategy for Enforcing Crew-Van Safety Law Railroad Safety Reform Act of 2002 NTSB Blames Coal Train Derailment On Dynamic Brakes, Excessive Speed Post Accident Alcohol & Drug Testing Straight Track Feedback: After reading Straight Track 113th Edition, Ray Lineweber of the UTU Nebraska State Legislative Board responds to the FRA. BLE Files Suit Against Federal Agencies That Would Slow Use Of Remote Control Illinois Concerned About Track Welds Along First High-Speed Rail Corridor Railroads or Employees May Pay Cost For New Transportation Security Card Remote Control Part I: What Railroaders Should Know About New Drug & Alcohol Testing Rules  Part II: Drug & Alcohol Testing Part III: Drug & Alcohol Testing Reporting On Hazards FRA Angle Cock Safety Advisory New Power Brake Regulations Locomotive Seat Vibrations FRA's Overview of RR Safety Regulatory Program Report Unsafe Conditions / Equipment Use Of Safety Equipment, Tools, & Clothing

Hoey & Farina Services / Staff Announcements Hoey & Farina, P.C. Charity Matching Fund 2003 Remembering a Life of Giving Making A Difference Together, Again $50,000 Target Reached Three Years & Counting... Charitable Matching Fund 2002 Don't Get Railroaded: An Informational Video For Railroaders The 4th of July The Online Forms Shanty Making A Difference Together: $50,000 Target Reached A $25,000 Charitable Matching Fund Big-Holing Straight Track Veterans Day What Do Railroaders Think Of Attorneys? Legal Advice When You Need It Most Family Members Seminars The Net Track Seminar: Creating A Web Site For Your Local, Lodge or Division Straight Track's 1st Year Anniversary New HTML Version of Straight Track H&F's New Web Site Launched