Court rules taxes withheld from jury award

August 20, 2013

OMAHA, Nebraska — A trial judge was wrong to order BNSF railroad to pay the full amount awarded by a jury to a former railroad worker without deducting federal railroad retirement taxes, the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled Friday.

Eddie Heckman, of Alliance, was injured on the job in 2003 and sued the railroad in 2004. A jury awarded Heckman $145,000 in 2011. BNSF paid the award, but deducted $6,200 to cover the tax withholding it says it must pay on compensation for lost wages.

Read the complete story at The Republic.