Our Team
Arvin J. Pearlman
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Nationally recognized railroad worker representation
Arvin Pearlman is nationally recognized for his work on behalf of railroad workers who were injured or killed in the course of their employment. Since concentrating his practice on Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) litigation in 1979, Arvin has tried countless personal injury cases before judges and juries across the United States, many resulting in multi-million-dollar awards for his clients. FELA claims are a unique type of federal case in which a railroad employee can hold an employer liable for injuries they sustain on the job. Often, these injuries are a result of unsafe work environments, exposure to harmful substances, occupational illness, faulty equipment, or off-site injuries.
Arvin is designated legal counsel for the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen in Michigan and the Transportation Communications Union nationwide. He also represents Michigan Local 2051 of the Transport Workers Union of America.
A natural problem solver from a young age, Arvin grew up in a middle-class family who taught him that anything worthwhile in life was worth the work needed to obtain it. One of Arvin’s most useful skills is being able to relate to jurors as fellow humans, and getting them to understand why the railroad was wrong, and what it could have done differently to prevent his client’s injuries.
When Arvin is not practicing law, he enjoys golf and spending time with his children and grandchildren. He is a Certified Recovery Coach and works with and coaches people dealing with substance abuse issues. Arvin appreciates the solitude of nature and tries to get out to the woods or mountains as often as possible.
Accomplishments
- $3.0 million confidential settlement amount after a $3.0 million jury verdict (US District Court for Eastern District of Michigan)
- $2.5 million satisfaction of judgment after the defendant unsuccessfully appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court: Steven Lilly v. Grand Trunk Western Railroad (Wayne County Circuit Court)
- $2.2 million jury verdict: Hunt v. Oakriver, et al. (Wayne County Circuit Court)
- $1.8 million jury verdict: Patton v. American Steamship (U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan)
- $1.75 million jury verdict: Van Callis v. Oakridge Markets (Oakland County Circuit Court)
- $1.7 million confidential settlement for a locomotive engineer when his engine was struck by another railroad company’s train
- $1.2 million jury verdict: Trump v. Consolidated Rail Corp. Locomotive Engineer (Wayne County Circuit Court)
- $1.1 million jury verdict: Ramirez v. Consolidated Rail Corp. Trackman (Wayne County Circuit Court)
- $1.0 million confidential settlement for the death of railroad worker
- $1.0 million confidential settlement for the death of a trackman after being fatally crushed
- $1.0 million confidential settlement for a minor who required amputation of both limbs on an attractive nuisance theory
- $1.0 million confidential settlement for the death of a man who fell from the roof of a church when his power lift rolled due to another company’s failure to properly choke the lift’s wheels
- $900,000 jury verdict with 50% comparative negligence for trackman who tripped over a switch during the day (US District Court for Eastern District of Michigan)
- $750,000 jury verdict: Meaia v. Norfolk & Southern Corp., involving a trackman who was almost run over by rail car and suffered PTSDas a result (U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan)
- $600,000 jury verdict in an Equine Liability case (Barry County Circuit Court)
- $600,000 confidential settlement after a carman fell from rail car(Ingham County Circuit Court)
- $600,000 confidential settlement against a Michigan School System after a locomotive engineer developed PTSD
- $550,000 confidential settlement for carman injured during an inspection of a tri-level auto carrier
- $500,000 confidential settlement for a snowmobile accident
- $500,000 jury verdict: Anderson v. Stroh Brewery Co. (Wayne County Circuit Court)
- $472,000 jury verdict: Zawalski v. ConsolidatedRail Corp. (U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- $450,000 jury verdict: Reinhold v. Consolidated Rail Corp. (U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan)
Memberships
- State Bar of Michigan
- Member, Lawyers and Judges Assistance Committee
- Member, Master Lawyers and Negligence Law Sections
- Former Member, District 1 Character & Fitness Committee
- American Association for Justice
- American Bar Association
- Michigan Association for Justice
- Oakland County Bar Association
- Academy of Rail Labor Attorneys
- Designated Legal Counsel for the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen
- Designated Legal Counsel for the Transportation Communications Union
- Transport Workers Union of America – Michigan Local 2051
Testimonials
Thank you, Arvin Pearlman, for trying to win. Thank you for putting in as much time as you did. Thank you for being patient with me. You made a big impression on me.
My sincere thanks for a great job! I know a lot of attorneys wouldn’t have touched this case or handled it in such a professional manor. Once again, thank you!
Your Honor, may we please be provided a calculator?
– Note to a judge from the jury in a railroad injury case handled
You are a phenomenal attorney. I wanted to thank you for doing such a great job regarding this case. I have a new love for law and all that it includes. Thank you for one of the best experiences of my life.
Arvin Pearlman was the first and only attorney that we consulted and could not be happier that we chose him to represent us. I truly realized that Arvin had me and my family’s best interest at heart. Once we made it to trial, all we kept thinking was how glad we were that he was on our side.
Recent Posts
- Detroit College of Law, Juris Doctor
- Wayne State University
- Western Michigan University College of Health and Human Services, Graduate Certificate (specializing in Alcohol and Drug Abuse)
- Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
- U.S. Supreme Court
- Personal Injury
Never compromise what you know to be right.
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