Union Pacific Railroad sued for negligence by employee

A railroad employee is suing over an injury to his lower back.

Richard Rodriguez filed a lawsuit Dec. 10 in the Cook County Circuit Court against Union Pacific Railroad Co., citing negligence.

According to the complaint, Rodriguez was employed by Union Pacific as a carman and part of his job required him to drive his vehicle between the main tracks. He claims he was driving between main two tracks 6 and 7 in a rail yard in Melrose Park on March 17, when he hit a large pothole, causing him to sustain an injury to his lower back.

He contends the defendant carelessly and negligently left a large pothole in the work are. Rodriguez is seeking damages in excess of the jurisdictional limit and is being represented in the case by attorney Craig W. Church of Hoey & Farina P.C.

Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 2013L013951.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed in the Cook County Circuit Court. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it only represents one side of the story.