La. Court Dismisses Asbestos Claims Against Union Pacific, Says Defendant Didn’t Owe Duty to Protect Tally Man

BATON ROUGE, La. –– A Louisiana federal court has dismissed asbestos claims against Union Pacific, agreeing with the defendant that it did not have a duty to protect a tally man from asbestos-containing products in the railcars.

In the May 27 order, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana said that the plaintiffs had failed to present any case law that imposed a legal duty on a railroad carrier under similar circumstances.

Plaintiffs Royce and Beverly Leonard asserted the claims, contending that Royce Leonard was exposed to asbestos-containing products while working as a tally man …