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Verdict: $24.2M

Jury sides with two hurt playing atop train

Oct 27, 2006 02:19 EST

By Brett Lovelace

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Showing 5 most recent comments out of 14 total TalkBack comments about this article
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QUOTE(LicenseForMayhem @ Oct 27 2006, 09:00 AM)

Hmmm...we were saving to send our kids to college. Maybe we should just show them where to trespass intead.

I am sure that there is an easier way..........how about you wait for the next snow or ice storm and walk on some one's sidewalk that hadn't cleared the snow off of it and trip and fall.......that should do it.......

dodgecrew

QUOTE(TooMuch @ Oct 27 2006, 09:53 AM)

Did any of you actually take the time to research the statutes in question? Under the law, the jury had no choice but to find in the trespassers' favor. It really doesn't matter what a bunch of uninformed laymen think. In their position, you would have done the same thing.

In a separate issue, did anyone read the article in yesterday's paper about Amtrak mismanaging 40 million plus in legal fees, i.e. paying too much for the very lawyers that lost this case. If these overpayed defense lawyers had done a better job, you might not be weeping as much, but you can bet the farm that taxpayers would still be getting hit in the pocket--even worse. Talk about crooks...

If you would kindly refer us "uninformed laymen" to where we can find these statutes.

I might have voted the same way if the "victims" had just walked on to the property and were electrocuted but they climbed onto the boxcars.

Additionally, we will have to wait and see if this verdict and award is upheld on appeal.

Tom Watson

Lacking any specific legal foundation to do otherwise, I would have had these two yahoos paying for their injuries and the resulting medical and emergency services used to save their lives. All it does is continue to make the public less responsible for their own actions. They were on private property doing things they should not have been doing. Where is their culpability? What are they responsible for? Were they fined as someone else asked? I do nto feel sorry for them and I hope the decision is reversed.

Amish Mystic

I don't know where the person got the info that the jury had no choose. That is all wrong. The jurors are the ones to blame here. They were under no obligation to find in favor of the trespassers. That the problem in the world today, no common sense.We have all these highly educated people how lack a whole lot of common sense. Ask them to solve a math problem and it's done in a flash. Then they ask what they should do because there nose is running, no common sense. Hopefully Amtrack and Norfolk Southern will appeal this idiotic decision.

goundpounder

QUOTE(GeoW @ Oct 27 2006, 08:49 AM)

The implication here is that a workman on the property legitimately could have been fried due to this negligent, unsafe condition.

I have no problem with the verdict except that all money beyond medical expenses should be given to the state, not the trespassers.

Negligent, unsafe condition?? I`ve worked under those wires for almost 30 years now.In that time,only 2 workers have been hurt by the electric and they were in sub-stations.We know the wires are there and are trained how to work near them.Roda says they are hidden.If your within 1/4 mile of electrified track,LOOK UP,youll see plenty of wires.This is bullschatt

Hammer

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