Murphy v. Union Pac. R.R. Co.

2019 Ark. App. 169, 574 S.W.3d 676
CourtCourt of Appeals of Arkansas
DecidedMarch 13, 2019
DocketNo. CV-17-784
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 2019 Ark. App. 169 (Murphy v. Union Pac. R.R. Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Arkansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Murphy v. Union Pac. R.R. Co., 2019 Ark. App. 169, 574 S.W.3d 676 (Ark. Ct. App. 2019).

Opinion

DAVID M. GLOVER, Judge

Irene Murphy filed a complaint in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, alleging that Union Pacific Railroad Company (Union Pacific) negligently failed to protect her husband, Alton Murphy, from exposure to toxic chemicals during his employment with the railroad. The complaint alleged that the railroad's negligence caused Mr. Murphy to develop multiple myeloma, a rare form of blood cancer, leading to his death in 2014. Union Pacific filed a motion for summary judgment, arguing that Mr. and Mrs. Murphy previously released the railroad from any further liability for toxic exposure as part of a negotiated settlement of another claim for a lung injury in 2007. The circuit court agreed and granted Union Pacific's motion.

Irene now appeals the judgment, arguing that it should be reversed because the prior release is void under section 5 of the Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA), which prohibits contracts that enable railroads "to exempt [themselves] from any liability[.]" 45 U.S.C § 55. According to Irene, the release is void under FELA because it goes beyond the injury and risk of future injury that were known to her and Mr. Murphy at the time they negotiated the release.

I. Facts and Procedural History

Alton Murphy worked for Union Pacific for thirty years. He worked as a manual laborer, then as a machine operator, before his retirement in 2002. In 2006, Mr. Murphy pursued a claim against the railroad, presumably alleging that his exposure to toxic substances during his employment caused him to suffer from pneumoconiosis, a lung disease that caused him shortness of breath. The claim apparently never went to suit. Mr. Murphy and Irene settled the claim with Union Pacific in 2007. In exchange for $ 20,000 the Murphys both signed a release that, in pertinent part, provided as follows:

DEFINITIONS
3. "Occupational Exposures," as used herein, shall mean and include any and all exposures to which ALTON MURPHY was exposed as an employee of Union Pacific. Occupational Exposures includes any and all exposures by any method, including exposures by breathing, touching, ingesting, or otherwise. Occupational Exposures includes any and all exposures to toxic materials, metals, or chemicals, including without limitation asbestos, dusts, fumes, vapors, smells, gases, fuels, combustion products and by-products, exhausts, solvents, cleaners, benzene, vinyl chloride, toluene, pesticides, herbicides, weed defoliants, lubricants, paints, paint thinners, silica and/or any other cancer causing agents, whether alleged or not alleged, caused by or contributed by or in any *678way the legal responsibility of [Union Pacific].
RECITALS
1. ALTON MURPHY filed a claim against Union Pacific seeking compensation as a result of ALTON MURPHY 's alleged diseases ... from Occupational Exposures while he was employed by Union Pacific.
2. Union Pacific, without in any way admitting liability with reference to the claim asserted by MURPHY , desire[s] to reach full and final compromise of all claims arising from ALTON MURPHY 's alleged injury from Occupational Exposures, including any cancers, lung-related diseases and/or death, while ALTON MURPHY was employed by Union Pacific.
3. MURPHY desires to reach full and final compromise of all claims asserted against Union Pacific in the above-referenced cause.
AGREEMENT
1. Union Pacific is paying MURPHY the sum of [$ 20,000]. MURPHY agrees to accept said sum as full and complete compromise of any and all claims which have accrued or which may hereafter accrue in favor of MURPHY and against Union Pacific as a result of ALTON MURPHY 's alleged injury, including any cancers, lung-related diseases, and/or death, from Occupational Exposures while ALTON MURPHY was employed by Union Pacific. MURPHY hereby acknowledges receipt of payment by execution of this Settlement Agreement and Release, and agrees that such consideration is being paid and will be accepted in full, final, and complete compromise and settlement of all claims, demands, actions, injuries, damages, costs, and compensation of any kind or nature whatsoever arising out of the subject matter of this Settlement Agreement and Release, being any Occupational Exposure, whether known or unknown, whether or not ascertainable at the time this Settlement Agreement and Release is executed.
2. MURPHY hereby expressly agrees to cause the dismissal with prejudice of the above-described suit against Union Pacific, and to hold forever harmless Union Pacific against any and all claims, demands, actions, damages, costs, and compensation of any kind brought at any time by any person or party against Union Pacific for the purpose of enforcing any claims resulting from ALTON MURPHY'S alleged Occupational Exposures while ALTON MURPHY was employed by Union Pacific or damages and expenses arising as the result of said exposure, including but not limited to any claims asserted by persons claiming to be heirs of ALTON MURPHY .
3. MURPHY hereby releases any and all claims, demands, actions, damages, costs, and compensation of any kind or nature whatsoever against Union Pacific, accruing to MURPHY as a result of ALTON MURPHY 's alleged injury from his Occupational Exposures or the consequences flowing therefrom, including any cancers, lung-related diseases, and/or death. MURPHY further agrees and covenants not to institute any action at law or in equity against Union Pacific for any claim, demands, actions, damages, costs, and compensation of any kind as a result of ALTON MURPHY 's Occupational Exposures while ALTON MURPHY was employed by Union Pacific, or the consequences flowing therefrom, including but not limited to any claim for medical bills, or health care, lost earning power, loss of consortium, mental anguish, pain, and suffering, wrongful death, contribution and/or indemnity, wrongful death, and any other claims now or later existing. Union Pacific may plead this agreement as a complete defense to any action or *679proceeding brought by MURPHY on the basis of the claims described above, and in breach of this covenant.

Mr. Murphy was diagnosed with multiple myeloma six years after signing the release, and he died on July 9, 2014. Irene Murphy, as her husband's personal representative, filed a complaint in the circuit court on February 24, 2016, alleging that Union Pacific negligently failed to protect Mr. Murphy from exposure to various toxic substances during his employment, proximately causing his multiple myeloma and premature death.

Union Pacific responded with a motion for summary judgment based on the prior release that the Murphys executed in 2007. Union Pacific argued that while section 5 of FELA prohibits contracts that "enable any common carrier to exempt itself from any liability," the Supreme Court and other federal courts have upheld releases entered into as a part of settlement agreements-including those that settle liability for future injuries. Relying on a case from the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, Wicker v. Consolidated Rail Corp.

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Bluebook (online)
2019 Ark. App. 169, 574 S.W.3d 676, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/murphy-v-union-pac-rr-co-arkctapp-2019.