Republic lawsuit filed

Wife of Republic Steel employee files wrongful death suit on behalf of late husband

A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed for the longtime Republic Steel employee who died as a result of a rail yard incident back in February.

Brownhelm Township resident Debra Johnson filed the lawsuit against Republic N& T Railroad, Inc., PAV Railroad, Inc., PAV Republic, Inc. and N& T Railway Company LLC.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Johnson’s husband of 42 years, Franklin Johnson Sr., 62, who died Feb. 14 while working at the Republic Steel Lorain plant at 1807 E. 28th St., according to the lawsuit filed Dec. 18.

Prior to his death, Franklin had been an employee of Republic Steel for 45 years.

The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages in excess of $25,000, said Joseph Gioffre, Debra Johnson’s attorney.

According to the lawsuit, Johnson claims her husband died as a result of Republic’s negligence to clean, clear, maintain, repair and keep the railway and its tracks at the plant in safe condition.

According to Lorain County Coroner Steven Evans, at the time of the incident, Franklin Johnson was hanging onto a moving train that was hauling scrap when he became wedged between the train and a set of still cars.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

“There was nothing anyone could do to help,” Evans said previously.

Immediately following the incident, production was halted and workers were sent home for the day.

Months prior to her husband’s death, Debra Johnson claimed he expressed concern for his safety on the job.

After his death, many of the plant’s workers rose up and expressed that they too had concerns about their safety while working at the plant.

In May, the federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration issued a $7,000 fine against Republic Steel for the death.

In OSHA’s citation to Republic, the federal agency claimed that at the time of Franklin Johnson’s death, Republic did not provide a workplace free of safety hazards.

“On or about Feb. 14, 2014, (Republic Steel) permitted employees to operate a locomotive in the facility on rail tracks that were covered with snow and ice which resulted in frequent derailments of rail cars and subsequently in a fatal struck-by and pinch point incident,” OSHA’s citation stated.

Republic Steel has appealed the fine. OSHA officials previously said they are in the process of holding a hearing to determine if Republic’s appeal should be considered and if the fine should stand.

This incident, however, isn’t the first time that the Lorain plant’s safety has been called into question, with OSHA previous issuing 57 serious violations, 10 willful violations and 10 repeat violations dating back to 1990.