Hildebrand McLeod & Nelson is pleased to share that the California Court of Appeal has affirmed a $19.5 million jury verdict in favor of our client in *Snell v. BNSF Railway Company*.
This case involved a serious incident back in 2016 where our client was run over and dragged by a locomotive during a switching operation. The injuries were catastrophic and life-changing. The jury found that BNSF was 70 percent at fault and that our client was 30 percent at fault. However, the jury also found that BNSF violated a federal railroad safety regulation, and therefore our client’s recovery was not reduced for his percentage fault.
The railroad appealed, arguing that it did not violate the federal regulation and asking the Court of Appeal to reduce the verdict by 30 percent. The Court of Appeal disagreed and upheld the verdict in full.
Hildebrand McLeod & Nelson is proud to have helped our client hold the railroad accountable. This decision reinforces the importance of workplace safety for all railroad workers.
Read the full opinion here: Snell Court of Appeal Opinion
