James Knell’s Widow Files Suit, MTA Supervisor Killed On The Job | Train Accident Attorney

Jackie Knell, widow of a Metropolitan Transportation Authority supervisor who was killed on the job last April  has filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against the city of New York.  James Knell, 45, was electrocuted when he came into contact with the third rail at the Beach 90th Street A Station in Queens.

In her wrongful death suit, Mrs. Knell alleges there were numerous safety violations at the work site when her husband slipped and fell on the wet subway track.  A sampling of allegations include: boards protecting the electrified third-rail were removed; there were no signs or lights alerting employees to the exposed rail.  A preliminary investigation of the tragedy raised a number of safety concerns, including that Knell was lugging 90 pounds of spikes when he apparently lost his balance.

James Knell had worked for the MTA for 13 years, the last nine as a supervisor.  Knell was the first transit worker killed on the job since 2007.