Pratt

This appeal is from a trial court order prohibiting defendant Union Pacific Railroad Company (Union Pacific) from compelling plaintiff Carlyle Pratt to attend a medical examination or conducting a disciplinary hearing to terminate Pratt’s employment for refusing to provide it with medical evidence justifying his continued absence from work.

In the underlying suit, Pratt filed suit against his employer, Union Pacific, under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act ( 45 U.S.C. § 51 et seq.; FELA) and the Locomotive Inspection Act ( 49 U.S.C. § 20701 et seq.) for personal injuries suffered at work. The FELA is a broad remedial statute, which authorizes railroad workers to recover damages for injuries resulting from the employer’s or a coworker’s negligence. ( 45 U.S.C. § 51 .)

After Pratt filed the suit and while he was on extended medical leave resulting from his injuries, Union Pacific sought additional medical information from him, which he refused to supply on the advice of counsel. When Union Pacific summoned Pratt to a disciplinary hearing for failure to provide the medical information, Pratt sought a preliminary injunction prohibiting Union Pacific from conducting the…