SEAN VAN BUREN VS. KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY
No. 2024-C-01564
Supreme Court of Louisiana
October 24, 2025
403 So. 3d 597
McCALLUM, J.
FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE NEWS RELEASE #048; Parish of Caddo;
Supreme Court of Louisiana
FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE NEWS RELEASE #048
FROM: CLERK OF SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA
The Opinions handed down on the 24th day of October, 2025 are as follows:
BY McCallum, J.:
2024-C-01564 SEAN VAN BUREN VS. KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY (Parish of Caddo)
REVERSED AND REMANDED. SEE OPINION.
SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA
No. 2024-C-01564
SEAN VAN BUREN
VS.
KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY
On Writ of Certiorari to the Court of Appeal, Second Circuit, Parish of Caddo
McCALLUM, J.
This case raises the issue of federal preclusion; more specifically, whether
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
This suit involves a petition for personal injuries filed by Sean Van Buren (“Van
KCS denied Van Buren‘s allegations and asserted that
Van Buren opposed KCS’ motion, attaching numerous depositions of KCS co-workers and managers to support his claim the company did not properly maintain Tracks 46 and 47. Van Buren noted a prior injury occurred on the same tracks, and despite numerous employee complaints about the ballast and walking conditions, KCS failed to address the employees’ concerns. Regarding preclusion, Van Buren asserted that more recent jurisprudence showed a judicial trend towards finding the FRSA does not preclude a FELA action.
The trial court granted KCS’ motion for summary judgment, ruling on the legal issue presented and finding that the FRSA precluded Van Buren‘s FELA suit. On appeal, noting Van Buren largely sought review of the trial court‘s ruling on the issue of preclusion, the appellate court found it was ultimately “constrained to agree” with the argument advanced by KCS. It therefore affirmed the trial court‘s judgment. Van Buren filed a writ application which we granted. Van Buren v. Kansas City S. Ry. Co., 2024-01564 (La. 04/01/25), 403 So. 3d 597.
DISCUSSION
“The summary judgment procedure is designed to secure the just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of every action, except those disallowed by Article 969. The procedure is favored and shall be construed to accomplish these ends.”
PRECLUSION
This case was resolved on an issue of law which requires us to interpret and examine the interplay between the FELA2 and the FRSA, specifically
We begin our discussion with KCS’ argument that the FRSA precludes Van Buren‘s FELA action. KCS asserts the FRSA and the federal regulation in question clearly subsume the field of ballast regulation. KCS notes the language of
National uniformity of regulation.--(1) Laws, regulations, and orders related to railroad safety and laws, regulations, and orders related to railroad security shall be nationally uniform to the extent practicable.
KCS argues these provisions clearly contemplate preclusion, as their enactment is meant to prevent inconsistent railroad regulation. On that point, KCS cites Norfolk S. Ry. Co. v. Shanklin, 529 U.S. 344, 352, 120 S. Ct. 1467, 1473, 146 L. Ed. 2d 374 (2000) (“Thus, ‘pre-emption will lie only if the federal regulations substantially subsume the subject matter of the relevant state law.‘“) (quoting CSX Transp., Inc. v. Easterwood, 507 U.S. 658, 664, 113 S. Ct. 1732, 123 L. Ed. 2d 387 (1993)). KCS contends that, although this is a preclusion case, the principles for pre-emption apply. Nickels v. Grand Trunk W.R.R., Inc., 560 F. 3d 426, 429-30 (6th Cir. 2009); see also Pom Wonderful, 573 U.S. at 111-12 (“Although the Court‘s pre-emption precedent does not govern preclusion analysis in this [preclusion] case its principles are instructive insofar as they are designed to assess the interaction of laws that bear on the same subject.“).4
KCS relies heavily on Nickels, arguing the Sixth Circuit thoroughly examined the
Two of our sister circuits have held that the uniformity demanded by the FRSA “can be achieved only if [federal rail safety regulations] are applied similarly to a FELA plaintiff‘s negligence claim and a non railroad-employee plaintiff‘s state law negligence claim.” Lane v. R.A. Sims, Jr., Inc., 241 F.3d 439, 443 (5th Cir. 2001); see also Waymire v. Norfolk & W. Ry. Co., 218 F.3d 773, 776 (7th Cir. 2000).
“Dissimilar treatment of the claims would have the untenable result of making the railroad safety regulations established under the FRSA virtually meaningless: ‘The railroad could at one time be in compliance with federal railroad safety standards with respect to certain classes of plaintiffs yet be found negligent under the FELA with respect to other classes of plaintiffs for the very same conduct.‘”
Nickels, 560 F. 3d at 430 (quoting Lane, 241 F. 3d at 443 and Waymire v. Norfolk & W. Ry. Co., 65 F. Supp. 2d 951, 955 (S. D. Ind. 1999), aff‘d, 218 F. 3d 773 (7th Cir. 2000)). The Nickels court observed that although Lane and Waymire addressed FELA claims of unsafe train speed in light of FRSA train speed regulations, “the FRSA‘s concern for uniformity leads us to reach the same conclusion regarding ballast regulations.” Id. Finding the FRSA subsumed the field of ballast regulation, Nickels concluded the FRSA precluded a FELA ballast action. Id.5
Van Buren asserts that after Nickels, Pom Wonderful significantly altered the analysis for preclusion cases. In Pom Wonderful, the United States Supreme Court considered whether a Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (“FDCA“) regulation precluded Pom Wonderful, LLC‘s Lanham Act claim against The Coca-Cola Company, alleging unfair competition through the deceptive labeling of a drink product. Coca-Cola argued that because the FDCA prohibits the false or misleading labeling of food and drink, permits the Food and Drug Administration to promulgate regulations regarding such labels, provides for near exclusive enforcement of the FDCA by the federal government, and included an express pre-emption clause, then the Act precluded Pom Wonderful‘s claim based on similar issues. Coca-Cola also asserted the FDCA was a more specific law, and therefore, it clarified or narrowed the scope of the more general law, the Lanham Act. Pom Wonderful countered,
The Supreme Court, rejecting Coca-Cola‘s arguments, found the two acts complementary as each held its own scope and purpose. Pom Wonderful, 573 U.S. at 115. The Court first observed that the issue was one of preclusion, not pre-emption. Id., 573 U.S. at 111. It then explained the case involved statutory interpretation:
[T]his is a statutory interpretation case and the Court relies on traditional rules of statutory interpretation. That does not change because the case involves multiple federal statutes. Nor does it change because an agency is involved. Analysis of the statutory text, aided by established principles of interpretation, controls.
Id., 573 U.S. at 112 (internal citations omitted). In reviewing the two acts, the Court found “the FDCA, by its terms, does not preclude Lanham Act suits.” Id., 573 U.S. at 113. The Court explained:
This absence is of special significance because the Lanham Act and the FDCA have coexisted since the passage of the Lanham Act in 1946. If Congress had concluded, in light of experience, that Lanham Act suits could interfere with the FDCA, it might well have enacted a provision addressing the issue during these 70 years. Congress enacted amendments to the FDCA and the Lanham Act, see, e.g., Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990, 104 Stat. 2353; Trademark Law Revision Act of 1988, § 132, 102 Stat. 3946, including an amendment that added to the FDCA an express pre-emption provision with respect to state laws addressing food and beverage misbranding, § 6, 104 Stat. 2362. Yet Congress did not enact a provision addressing the preclusion of other federal laws that might bear on food and beverage labeling. This is “powerful evidence that Congress did not intend FDA oversight to be the exclusive means” of ensuring proper food and beverage labeling.
Id., 573 U.S. 113–14 (internal citations omitted). The Court went further, holding that “[w]hen two statutes complement each other, it would show disregard for the congressional design to hold that Congress nonetheless intended one federal statute to preclude the operation of the other.” Id., 573 U.S. at 115.
We agree with the analysis set forth in Pom Wonderful and find the FELA and the FRSA to be complementary. We thus join the majority of state and federal courts that have applied the Court‘s reasoning post-Pom Wonderful, to find the FRSA does not preclude FELA actions. For example, Madden v. Anton Antonov & AV Transportation, Inc., 156 F. Supp. 3d 1011 (D.C. Neb. 2015), found:
This Court is not persuaded by the reasoning of Waymire or its progeny, and respectfully declines to follow suit. Neither the plain text of FRSA nor its goal of national uniformity demand preclusion of FELA claims. Rather, the text of FRSA and the purposes underlying both it and FELA demand the opposite. The Waymire line of precedent elevates uniformity at the expense of safety, but that is not the balance Congress has struck. By its plain terms, FRSA‘s pre-emption provision applies only to certain state-law requirements, not FELA or any other federal law.
More recently, a number of other state Supreme Courts, including Georgia, Alabama,
Since POM Wonderful, however, most courts not bound by FELA precedent that precedes POM Wonderful have held that FRSA does not preclude a FELA claim.
... Our Court of Appeals relied on POM Wonderful in determining that Hartry‘s FELA claim is not precluded by FRSA. We agree with the well-reasoned conclusion of our intermediate appellate court, and with the reasoning of the more recent post-POM Wonderful decisions from other courts.
...
While there is some overlap between the scope and purpose of FRSA and FELA – as both are directed to railroad safety – the statutory schemes approach each of their purposes from significantly different perspectives. The regulations promulgated under FRSA are the “minimum safety requirements for railroad track that is part of the general railway system.” FRSA‘s purpose – “to promote safety in every area of railroad operations and reduce railroad-related accidents and incidents,
49 USC § 20101 – is entirely consistent with FELA‘s goal of promoting the safety of railroad employees by facilitating their ability to recover for injuries caused by a railroad‘s negligence.” Where two statutes are complementary and neither expressly forbids or limits claims under the other, “it would show disregard for the congressional design to hold that Congress intended one federal statute nonetheless to preclude the operation of the other.” Here, FRSA and FELA “complement each other in major respects, for each has its own scope and purpose.”
Norfolk v. Hartry, 307 Ga. at 570-72 (internal citations omitted); see also, Cottles v. Norfolk Southern R. Co., 224 So. 3d 572, 592 (Ala. 2016) (agreeing with other recent decisions applying Pom Wonderful to FRSA/FELA cases and holding that regulations enacted under the FRSA do not preclude a FELA claim); Noice v. BNSF R. Co., 383 P. 3d 761, 771 (N.M. 2016) (“[W]e conclude that FRSA and FELA are complementary in purpose and effect. Both statutes further railroad safety in meaningfully distinct ways. FRSA seeks to enhance safety in every area of railroad operation, and to protect the public as well as railroad workers. It does so with national, comprehensive regulatory standards which are enforced by government entities. FELA, by comparison, focuses solely on the safety of railroad workers, and does so by providing railroad employees a private right of action.“) (internal citations omitted); Fair v. BNSF R. Co., 238 Cal. App. 4th 269, 189 Cal. Rptr. 3d 150 (2015); Bratton v. Kansas City S. R. Co., 2015 WL 789127 (W.D. La. Feb. 24, 2015); and Rouzer v. CSX Transportation Inc., 2025 WL 343514 (Tenn. Ct. App. Jan. 30, 2025).6
FACTUAL REVIEW
KCS additionally asserts that even if preclusion does not apply, summary judgment in its favor is appropriate because Van Buren cannot prove the traditional elements of a FELA negligence claim. KCS argues Van Buren failed to show a genuine issue of material fact as to negligence, and that he relied on self-serving, general complaints about the rail yard, not the specific site of the injury. Citing Alex v. BNSF Ry. Co., 2012-462 (La. App. 3 Cir. 11/07/12), 103 So. 3d 1180, KCS contends self-serving evidence is insufficient to defeat summary judgment. We disagree with KCS’ characterization of the evidence.
KCS supported its motion for summary judgment with the depositions of Van Buren and Samuel Jamison, and it heavily relied on the affidavit of their civil engineer
Mr. Brookings concluded the rail company provided a reasonably safe place to work. He included the following opinions:
After reviewing the above materials, references, and relying on my years of railway engineering experience which includes visiting railways throughout North America, including Tracks 46 and 47 in the Shreveport Yard, it is my professional opinion, to a reasonably (sic) degree of engineering certainty, that KCS did provide a reasonably safe place to work for Mr. Van Buren on June 2, 2019. The ballast conditions between Track 46 and 47 in Shreveport Yard at the time of the incident would not have prevented Mr. Van Buren from safely walking in the vicinity of the railcar. Mr. Van Buren was familiar with this area and had made a similar prior move and had done so safely.
...
[T]he photographs taken after the incident reflect that the area was well maintained.
...
Inspection records for Track 46 indicate there were no defects noted from January thru May 2019.
...
Although all five carmen discussed the changing environment in a railyard with numerous railcars arriving and departing they all testified they had worked in this area of Track 46 and 47 and had done so safely. The only previous injury to a carman walking on ballast was Mr. Gregory Lebrun. I am familiar with Mr. Lebrun‘s incident and know that extremely heavy rain and a water filled track ditch was the contributing factor. Ballast was not an issue and the incident did not take place anywhere near Track 46 or Track 47.
For carmen with 17-23 years’ experience to only remember one other incident of a fellow carman falling is a tribute to the safety mentality of this group and its leadership.
...
KCS violated no [Federal Railroad Administration] regulations.
Samuel Jamison, Van Buren‘s co-worker working on the opposite side of the track at the time of Van Buren‘s injury, was deposed. He testified that “[Van Buren] forgot where he was and lost his footing and fell down the slope that‘s right there.” When asked if he had ever fallen or seen Van Buren fall other than the time of the incident, he replied, “No.” He further stated he had no concern with the ballast the day of the incident prior to Van Buren‘s accident. However, he also admitted he had previously complained about the rail yard in general and that co-workers had complained specifically about the tracks where Van Buren was injured. Although he stated he had never fallen before, he did acknowledge he stumbled in the same area of the Van Buren injury and such stumbles were common.
William Luster, a carman for KCS, stated he and other KCS employees complained about the ballast having low and high spots on Tracks 46 and 47. Likewise, Jason Smith, another KCS carman, provided his recollection of complaints made about the walking conditions of Tracks 46 and 47. Jonathan Frazier, who was asked to describe the rail yard conditions, stated: “They needed to be – it needed some attention.” He provided his accounts of complaints about Tracks 46 and 47, namely, that the ballast was not uniform. In particular, he indicated that some areas had smaller sized ballast suitable for walking
Lamario Ware, a car department employee for KCS, described the ballast in the railyard in frank terms: “The – walking conditions is – was horrible.” He also recounted prior complaints he had made about Tracks 46 and 47. He answered, “No,” when asked if anything was done as a result of KCS employee complaints. Rod Clark was asked about any prior complaints he made about the railyard, testifying: “Years ago, just told them about the footing and – and – and the slope of the – of the track.” Casey Hall, a KCS safety manager, who performs industrial inspections, stated there were no regularly scheduled cleanups or regularly scheduled maintenance in the yard to secure and pack the ballast.
The FELA provides the exclusive remedy for a railroad employee injured due to his employer‘s negligence. See Wabash R. Co. v. Hayes, 234 U.S. 86, 89, 34 S. Ct. 729, 729, 58 L. Ed. 1226 (1914); Broussard v. Union Pac. R. Co., 29,769 (La. App. 2 Cir. 08/28/97), 700 So. 2d 542, 544, writ denied, 1997-2414 (La. 12/12/97), 704 So. 2d 1202. The United States Supreme Court has directed that the FELA is to be liberally construed to further the remedial goals of Congress and includes a relaxed standard of causation. Rogers v. Missouri Pac. R. Co., 352 U.S. 500, 506, 77 S. Ct. 443, 448, 1 L. Ed. 2d 493 (1957); see Norfolk S. Ry. Co. v. Sorrell, 549 U.S. 158, 171, 127 S. Ct. 799, 808, 166 L. Ed. 2d 638 (2007). Under the FELA, the question is whether “employer negligence played any part, even the slightest, in producing the injury or death for which damages are sought.” Rogers, 352 U.S. at 506. “The burden of the employee is met, and the obligation of the employer to pay damages arises, when there is proof, even though entirely circumstantial[.]” Id., 352 U.S. at 508.
We find Van Buren established sufficient evidence to defeat KCS’ motion for summary judgment. The evidence was not merely “self-serving” testimony as was present in Alex v. BNSF, where the petitioner relied solely on his own testimony. Alex, p. 6, 103 So. 3d at 1184. We find Van Buren identified sufficient evidence to establish a genuine issue of material fact as to whether KCS acted negligently. Thus, summary judgment is not warranted at this time.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, we reverse the lower courts’ grant of summary judgment in favor of KCS. We remand for further proceedings.
REVERSED AND REMANDED.