March 6th, 2006

A lawsuit has been filed by a former employee of the BNSF Railway who has had medical tests that show he has sustained damage to his lungs from exposure to asbestos. The lawsuit was filed last week by William Phillips, who claims that the damage to his lungs occurred as a result of exposure to asbestos and toxic substances when working as a mechanic for the company, which he did for nearly 30 years.

Phillips stated that the asbestos was used for a number of purposes in the yard in which he worked, including insulation in the shop and in locomotives. He stated: "It was everywhere. We could order it right out of the storeroom. They were pretty loose with it."

Phillips added that although he had suffered from a bad cough for many years, he had never thought to have any tests done until some other former employees died from an asbestos related cancer known as mesothelioma. He then went for medical tests, which confirmed he had sustained asbestos related lung damage.

His attorney stated: "BN and the railroads have known for years that asbestos is a killer."