KRCL Obtains Defense Verdict in Roger Brantley v. Union Pacific Railroad Company

Marcy Rothman, Danny Guerra and Sharee Wilson obtained a defense verdict in Roger Brantley v. Union Pacific Railroad, tried starting August 29 and ending September 7, 2011.  The case was tried in the 152nd Judicial District Court of Harris County before the Honorable Judge Robert Schaffer.  The plaintiffs sought $1,739,350.  The jury returned its no liability verdict after deliberating for 30 minutes.   The damage questions were predicated and were not reached.

Roger Brantley claimed that he was injured and totally disabled from working at the Railroad at the age of 32.  He earned approximately $67,000 per year.  He claimed he was injured by a defective main line switch and there was an objective eyewitness who saw him struggling with the equipment.  The ultimate question was whether Union Pacific had  properly installed and maintained the switch, i.e., whether the switch was installed and maintained in accordance with Federal Railroad Administration and Union Pacific standards.  There was enough evidence to go to the jury on both prongs of the question but the jury ultimately determined that Union Pacific was not negligent.

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