Railroad Worker Awarded $1.6 Million Premises Liability Lawsuit

Patrick Cheff, a former railroad conductor, was awarded $1.6 million by a Great Falls, Montana jury.

In the premises liability lawsuit, Cheff claims he suffered a back injury after he slipped while entering the locker room at the Whitefish rail yard.

According to Cheff's attorney, Terry Trieweiler, Cheff told his employer, BNSF Railway, that the entrance was a dangerous area.  Because the sloped roofs came together at that point, ice and snow tended to accumulate in the area.

The jury found BNSF Railway 85 percent at fault and Cheff 15 percent at fault.

Premises Liability Laws

Under premises liability laws, property owners have a legal obligation to repair or fix any broken or dangerous conditions that could potentially lead to an accident. In many states, a property owner will be held liable for damages if the victim can prove that the owner not only knew about a dangerous condition, but failed to repair or remedy the situation in a timely matter.

For more information about slip and fall accidents, click here to find a personal injury lawyer near you!