Stupid is as stupid does (thanks, Steve!!)
If you play with fire, you have to expect that you’re going to get burned. If you play with sharp objects, you can’t claim to be surprised when you cut yourself. If you happen to be walking on railroad tracks when a train comes along…well, you can imagine what hilarity ensues when our heroine fails in her question for a Darwin Award. Yep, that’s right; she gets a DUMB@$$ AWARD.
A Pennsylvania woman who was struck by a train has sued the rail company — for failing to warn her that trains travel on railroad tracks.
Patricia M. Frankhouser filed suit on Nov. 4 seeking damages in excess of $30,000 from Norfolk Southern Corp., according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Last January, Frankhouser was hit by a train as she walked along railroad tracks in her hometown of Jeannette, Pa., a southeastern suburb of Pittsburgh.
Amazingly, she came away from the encounter with only a broken finger, some cuts and, according to the lawsuit, “pain.”
Apparently, however, the incident was traumatic enough for her to hire a lawyer.
“Defendant’s failure to warn plaintiff of the potential dangers negligently provided plaintiff with the belief she was safe in walking near the train tracks,” Frankhouser’s suit asserts.
It goes on to state that Norfolk Southern, based in Norfolk, Va., should have posted signs warning passersby “of the dangers of walking near train tracks and that the tracks were actively in use.”
Now here is a living, breathing, walking, talking argument for tort reform if ever there was one. How devoid of common sense must one be in order to think that you have cause to sue the railroad because they didn’t “warn” you that TRAINS RUN ON RAILROAD TRACKS?? Well, duh…and I suppose for her next trick she’ll sue a toaster company for failing to warn her that she shouldn’t immerse said appliance in a bathtub while she is in it….
I’d be willing to bet if you looked into one of Ms. Frankhouser’s ears, you’d see daylight out the other side. Perhaps there is something to be said for natural selection after all….
