$557 Million Verdict Won Against Union Pacific

In a massive victory, Arnold & Itkin Attorney Kyle Findley won a record-breaking $557 million verdict for a woman struck by a Union Pacific train on March 5, 2016. The case was disputed for almost 7 years, with Union Pacific refusing to take any responsibility for this tragedy. Instead, Union Pacific blamed the entire event on the plaintiff who was sitting on the railroad tracks after losing her friends during a night out.

Kyle Findley and his team argued that the entire event was avoidable if the train operators had taken the safer course of action. They developed evidence that the train operators recognized it was a person on the track that was not moving and failed to take any actions to slow or stop the train before striking our client. They argued that Union Pacific had multiple failures at managerial levels and beyond, and those failures led to horrific consequences.

As a result of the incident, our client sustained catastrophic injuries, including the amputation of her leg, the loss of multiple fingers, and a severe brain injury. She also sustained injuries to other parts of her body, which required extensive medical treatment. These injuries caused her physical pain, mental anguish, and other medical problems. In addition, she required extensive physical therapy to have any hope of recovery. She incurred significant medical expenses, lost earnings, and a loss of future earning capacity.

Our firm took on the case and argued that Union Pacific was negligent and grossly negligent in several ways, including failing to supervise and train its employees properly, failing to provide the necessary safety procedures, and failing to follow recognized industry standards. This week, the jury agreed with Kyle Findley’s argument and awarded the plaintiff a historic verdict in the form of $557 million in damages.

This verdict is a testament to our lawyers’ hard work and dedication. Our legal team of Kyle Findley, Kala Sellers, John Grinnan, Trevor Courtney, and paralegals Jill Erickson and Miranda Owens all fought tirelessly to ensure our client received full and fair compensation. The verdict also sends a clear message to railroad companies that they must take their responsibilities seriously to protect the safety of their employees and the public.

At Arnold & Itkin, we are committed to helping our clients overcome seemingly impossible odds. There is no fight too big for us. No challenge is too difficult. Our firm worked tirelessly to help our client reach justice, and we could not be prouder to have won this momentous verdict on her behalf.