Union Pacific Settles Railroad Death Case For $9 Million

Estate of Roger Bruenig, et. al. v. Union Pacific Railroad, et. al. (Bexar County District Court), July 2006

PHMY attorneys Kevin M. Young and Grant T. McFarland recently settled a single-fatality lawsuit against the Union Pacific Railroad for $9 Million.  The lawsuit arose from the death of a 38-year-old San Antonio man, Roger Bruenig, killed by the negligent derail of a U.P. train.  PHMY represented the deceased's minor daughter and acted as lead counsel for the Estate.  Other attorneys represented the parents of the deceased and judgment was entered on July 19, 2006.

The aggressive strategy of the PHMY attorneys enabled them to build a solid case for punitive damages by obtaining numerous documents not previously produced by U.P., securing damaging testimony from U.P. officials, and locking in a date for the deposition of U.P. president, Jim Young.  The case was settled before Mr. Young testified under oath.  Additionally, PHMY enlisted industry experts Charles L. Culver, Mike Deatherage and George A. Gavalla as consultants in the prosecution of this case.

The net recovery to the client was approximately $5,558,000.

Results obtained depend on the particular facts of each case.