Fighting for Their Clients in the Railroad Industry
For many years, Boyle Brasher LLC attorneys have been national and regional counsel for several Class I railroads. The firm traces its history directly to the Kramer and Kramer firm formed in the mid-1880s to represent the railroad industry. Boyle Brasher LLC has represented one switching railroad in the St. Louis metropolitan area since that company's inception in the 1890s. Boyle Brasher LLC also handles the defense of passenger rail cases. In more recent years, Boyle Brasher LLC has represented the short line railroad industry as it has expanded.
Effective Litigators and Knowledgeable Counselors at Law
Boyle Brasher LLC attorneys are heavily involved in the defense of its railroad clients in civil lawsuits brought against them in Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee and other jurisdictions around the nation. The firm has frequently been called upon by its railroad clients and railroad industry trade associations to provide analysis and advice concerning new legal and legislative developments of special interest to the railroad industry.
FELA Cases - Traumatic and Occupational Injury
Boyle Brasher LLC's trial attorneys have handled thousands of Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), Safety Appliance Act and Locomotive Inspection Act cases for railroad clients. Those cases have involved allegations of both traumatic and occupational injury. In the past five years alone the firm's attorneys have tried many FELA cases to verdict in some of the most difficult jurisdictions for railroad defendants in the U.S.
Asbestos and Occupational Disease Litigation Defense
Boyle Brasher LLC has years of experience in preparing and trying "occupational" FELA cases involving allegations of exposure to asbestos, diesel exhaust, benzene, silicon, creosote and other toxic and particulate substances. The firm represents two railroads as National Counsel in their asbestos litigation. For several years Boyle Brasher LLC has also successfully represented railroad clients in other "occupational" cases, including ballast, repetitive stress, rough ride, whole body vibration, carpal tunnel and noise-induced hearing loss claims.
Traumatic Injury Defense
In the area of traumatic injury lawsuits Boyle Brasher LLC has handled numerous FELA, Safety Appliance Act, and Locomotive Inspection Act cases that allege serious injuries and significant monetary damages against the firm's railroad clients. The firm's attorneys are very familiar with, have deposed and have cross examined in depositions and trial most of the liability, medical and damages experts utilized by the plaintiffs' FELA bar.
Team Players
Because of our long experience with representing the railroad industry, our attorneys understand our clients' needs. Boyle Brasher LLC attorneys work closely as team members with the claims professionals and law department attorneys responsible for managing their companys' risks and litigation.
Grade Crossing Cases
Boyle Brasher LLC has defended hundreds of serious grade crossing and trespasser suits involving potential catastrophic damage claims. The firm is often called on to assist its clients in the earliest investigative stages at accident scenes involving serious injury or death. Boyle Brasher works cooperatively with all agencies at the scene of a serious accident, including government investigators. Boyle Brasher LLC attorneys fully understand that the successful trial of a grade crossing or trespasser case must be preceded by meticulous witness preparation, selection of credible experts, and a detailed understanding of the state and federal regulatory policies governing railroads, highway safety and grade crossings.
Other Representation of Railroads
Boyle Brasher LLC attorneys have frequently represented railroad clients in employment discrimination and labor injunction cases in both Federal and State Courts. More recently the firm has been retained to represent railroad clients anticipating or charged with Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) violations. The firm has handled a variety of other state and federal regulatory matters, freight charge collections, and matters involving crossing closures before federal and state administrative bodies. Often Boyle Brasher LLC attorneys are retained by railroads to serve as members of arbitration panels in arbitrations mandated by contract or law.
Cutting Edge Responses to Evolving Theories of Liability
Boyle Brasher LLC attorneys are frequently consulted by railroad officers and trade associations to assess the always evolving new theories of liability asserted by the plaintiff's bar against the industry. The firm assists in planning and coordinating the industry's responses to these new challenges. Boyle Brasher LLC has been at the forefront in the development of federal preemption in grade crossing cases. The firm has participated directly in the development of new defense strategies in response to the new approach of the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) to disability payments to FELA claimants. The firm is also actively working with railroads to develop strategies for handling the recent increase in Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) investigations on railroad property.
The attorneys at Boyle Brasher LLC are proud of the firm's achievements for its railroad clients and appreciates the relationships and trust it has developed over the years.
Nationally Recognized
Boyle Brasher LLC attorneys are nationally recognized. The firm is AV rated* by Martindale-Hubbell. Our lawyers include fellows of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the Litigation Counsel of America. Members of the firm are listed in The Best Lawyers in America and as Super Lawyers. Our attorneys have been published in respected legal journals and periodicals. Firm members have been recognized by the Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers. Boyle Brasher LLC has also been designated a Go-To Law Firm by The American Lawyer. The firm is dedicated to maintaining cutting edge excellence in its areas of practice. To achieve that goal, members of the firm are active participants in defense litigation organizations including the Federation of Insurance and Corporation Counsel, the Defense Research Institute, the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, the Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers and the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel (NARTC). Two members of the firm are past presidents of the NARTC.
Contact Us
Learn how Boyle Brasher LLC can meet your needs. Contact the firm or any of its attorneys by phone or e-mail to schedule an appointment or a review of your legal needs.
In St. Louis, Missouri, call us at 314-621-7700 or email us at contactstlouis@boylebrasher.com
In Belleville, Illinois, call us at 618-277-9000 or email us at contactbelleville@boylebrasher.com
In Memphis, Tennessee, call us at 901-521-2860 or email us at contactmemphis@boylebrasher.com
Boyle Brasher LLC is also available to serve as local counsel for clients and their attorneys.
*AV Preeminent and BV Distinguished are certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties, Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell ratings fall into two categories: legal ability and general ethical standards.
