Saw this on a Railroad BBS.
"April 3, 2008
PHILADELPHIA - A judge upheld a $24 million award to two teenage trespassers who were severely burned when they touched overhead catenary while climbing on top of a freight car in Lancaster, Pa., the Associated Press reported. The jury assigned 70 percent of the blame to track owner Amtrak and the rest to Norfolk Southern.
U.S. District Judge Lawrence Stengel said it was unreasonable to leave the freight cars parked under catenary for four days in a populated area with power turned on and no warning signs posted. He also wrote that graffiti should have tipped Amtrak off that somebody was trespassing on the cars.
"If these boys had fallen off a ladder, … end of discussion," said plaintiff attorney Joseph Ruda. "But it's another thing to say that they should be electrocuted for climbing on top of a parked train."
Amtrak and NS intend to appeal the judge's decision."
These kids are getting money because they were tresspassing. why does that not make sense at all.
