Powell-Coker v. Norfolk Southern Railway Company, Inc. et al

On October 19, 2018, 17-year-old Jadon Powell-Coker was struck and killed by a Norfolk Southern freight train while crossing the tracks at an unguarded crossing in Prichard, Alabama. His mother, Angela Powell-Coker, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Norfolk Southern Railway Company, Inc., alleging negligence in failing to maintain safe conditions and provide adequate warnings at the crossing. The case proceeded to trial in Mobile County Circuit Court, highlighting the lack of gates, lights, or proper signage at the crossing. The family sought damages for the loss of their son, arguing the railroad company knew the crossing was dangerous but failed to remedy the hazards.

In November 2021, a Mobile County jury found Norfolk Southern Railway primarily liable, attributing 80% of the fault to the railroad and 20% to the deceased. The jury awarded $3.5 million in damages to the family, reduced proportionally to account for the comparative negligence finding.

The central dispute was whether Norfolk Southern breached its duty of care by failing to install adequate safety measures at the railroad crossing, and whether the railroad's negligence proximately caused Jadon Powell-Coker's death. The defense argued the teenager was trespassing and contributorily negligent by crossing the tracks in the path of an oncoming train.

The verdict drew attention to the dangers of unguarded railroad crossings, especially in residential areas, and prompted calls for improved safety infrastructure. The case underscored the legal responsibilities of railroad companies to address known hazards and reinforced the application of comparative fault in wrongful death claims involving minors.