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Homeless Man Awarded $1.9 Million After Getting Hit By Subway Train
By
Max Rivlin-Nadler
Published Jan 28, 2014
Modified Jan 28, 2014
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By
Max Rivlin-Nadler
Published Jan 28, 2014
Modified Jan 28, 2014
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A homeless man who wandered onto subway tracks has been awarded $1.9 million after a jury found the York City Transit Authority 40% at fault in an accident that severed the man's foot.
Robert Obey's lawyer told the Daily News that Obey "could not remember how he wound up on the tracks,” at the 33rd Street Station in Midtown in 2006. Obey had just left a methadone clinic hours before the accident.
The train's operator waited until they pulled into the next station to report the incident. According to the Daily News, Obey was "high on drugs" when he was hit by the train and noted that Obey has a history of mental illness. The MTA will appeal the decision.
A recent perceived surge in subway deaths has led to more precautions being taken by the MTA as well as an awareness campaign about the dangers of going on or near the tracks. You can check out Gothamist's interactive map to see where injuries and suicides have happened most in the NYC transit System.
Tagged
drugs
homeless
lawsuits
MTA
safety
Max Rivlin-Nadler
Max Rivlin-Nadler has been a contributor to Gothamist since 2013. He has also reported for the New York Times, NPR, and The Intercept. His years-long investigation into New York City's arcane civil forfeiture laws led to a series of reforms which altered a practice that had been taking millions from poor communities for decades. Recently, he brought back a surfing habit from a few years on the west coast, and would love to see you all out in the Rockaways.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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