Amputated Arm
Jury awarded Plaintiff $4,201,000.00 under FELA – Safety Appliance Act. Verdict upheld on appeal by U.S. Court of Appeals – 7th Circuit.
A switchman attempted to open the knuckle of a box car with the “pin-lifter.” When the pin-lifter malfunctioned, he was forced to reach in between cars to open the knuckle manually. At that moment, a car was sent into the track without warning, causing the switchman to be knocked to the ground and resulting in the amputation of his arm.