A jury awarded $606,000 to a retired train conductor who claimed his knee problems were caused by his job. Harold R. Huffman, who is now in his late 60s, said he developed osteoarthritis due to years spent getting on and off moving trains and walking on uneven, sloping surfaces while employed by Union Pacific Railroad Co. His doctor said that Huffman will need bilateral knee joint replacement surgery as his condition continues to worsen. Huffman alleged Union Pacific was aware of the potential risks associated with his job, and he contended that its ergonomics program was inadequate. Union Pacific argued Huffman's own negligence, including his obesity, was the sole cause of his knee problems.
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