Cable Car Conductor Sues for Permanent Injuries
Charles Brevort, a conductor for the Madison Street Cable Railway, claims a carelessly handled car with faulty brakes left him permanently disabled and unable to support his family.
Charles Brevort, who seeks to recover from the Madison Street Cable Railway Company for injuries received, filed his amended complaint yesterday. He recites that on January 6, while he was in the employ of the company as conductor and in the discharge of his duty, he was run into by a car carelessly handled and insufficiently provided with brakes, and injured on or near the turntable in front of the power house, his injuries incapacitating him from doing any work. He says he has since been confined to his house all of the time and most of the time in bed. He claims that his spine, hip and limbs are injured permanently so that he will never be able to support himself or his family.
“He claims that his spine, hip and limbs are injured permanently so that he will never be able to support himself or his family.”
In an era before workers' compensation, injured workers like Charles Brevort had to sue their employers for negligence. Today, Washington State has a workers' comp system, but debates over workplace safety and corporate responsibility continue.
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