Federal Court Finds Claims of Several Former Union Pacific Workers Properly Joined

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. –– An Arkansas federal court has rejected asbestos defendant Union Pacific’s attempts to sever the claims of several former employees, ruling that the similarities between the claims favor joinder. Langrell, et al. v. Union Pacific Railroad Co., et al., No. 12-00084 (E.D. Ark.).

In the July 25 decision, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas did determine, however, that two of the plaintiffs’ claims should be tried separately, as there were some distinctions in terms of employment between the plaintiffs.

The plaintiffs asserted the claims under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act, contending that while …