HELENA — The state Supreme Court will decide whether to prevent injured railroad employees from filing lawsuits against their companies in Montana if their claims have nothing to do with the state.
The court heard arguments Tuesday in two cases of workers who sued BNSF Railway in Yellowstone County District Court over injuries that happened in other states.
Such cases are allowed under a federal law that says a lawsuit can be filed in a court where the defendant is doing business at the time.
Attorneys for BNSF argue that a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year determined jurisdiction lies where the corporation is “at home,” with limited exceptions. The company says its home is Texas.
An attorney for the workers says the ruling does not apply to these cases.
The justices did not make an immediate ruling.