Attorney Chad Knight represented BNSF in a lawsuit filed by a BNSF engineer in Missoula, Montana. The plaintiff brought claims under the FELA and the Locomotive Inspection Act alleging that he had been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease caused by his work for BNSF in and around Libby, Montana. In closing arguments, the plaintiff sought $1.67 million in compensatory damages, and unspecified punitive damages.
The trial team demonstrated that the plaintiff’s medical condition was not related to asbestos exposure, and that BNSF had operated as a safety-conscious company, minimizing any harmful exposures to the plaintiff. The jury returned a defense verdict on all counts.