Railroad police officer files suit against Metra

A railroad police officer is suing over injuries he sustained in a 2013 rail yard incident.

Joseph Gbur filed suit March 13 in Cook County Circuit Court against Metra, making claims under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).

According to the complaint, Gbur was injured in the Joliet Union Station yard on Nov. 13, 2013, when he stepped on a large piece of ballast, twisted his left knee and rolled his left ankle while walking to his vehicle. He also alleges injury to his right knee.

Gbur claims his injuries were due to negligent acts or omissions by Metra as it failed to provide him with reasonably safe working conditions, warn him of the uneven ballast, enable an ergonomics program, provide adequate training and protective safety equipment or properly maintain its equipment.

He seeks damages in excess of $50,000, plus attorney fees and costs. He is represented by attorneys Eric Holland, R. Seth Crompton and Philip Proud of Holland Law Firm in St. Louis, and Eileen O’Connor of O’Connor Law Group in Chicago.

Cook County Circuit Court case number: 2015L002648.