Community Corner

Union Pacific Wrongful Death Case Stuck Between Courts

It could take years for resolution in the wrongful death case against Union Pacific railroad after a Glenview couple was killed in a bridge collapse a year ago this week.

By Stan Golovchuk

A year ago this week, the Union Pacific train derailment caused the Shermer Road bridge to collapse on Glenview's Burt and Zorine Lindner. This lead to a wrongful death suit on behalf of the Lindner family against Union Pacific. 

Chicago's Clifford Law Offices retained the case for the Lindner family shortly thereafter, and the suit has been stuck between state and federal courts since, according to Bob Clifford, lead counsel on the case.

"Almost immediately after the firm of Fisher and LaMonica filed the case (in state court), the railroad moved it to federal court, claiming there were federal railroad issues that could be be decided by a federal court," Clifford said. 

The Lindners' attorneys successfully moved the case back to state court, adding the train operatior and on-duty Union Pacific employees as defendants in the wrongful death suit. 

However, Clifford says Union Pacific appealed the change to state court, and his legal team now awaits a federal appeals court ruling on whether the lawsuit belongs before a state or federal judge.

Clifford says the entire wrongful death case could take anywhere from two to four years before a final judgement is made. 

"The Lindner family is humbled and grateful for the outpouring of community support they have received," he added.


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