Supreme Court of the United States
Norfolk Southern Railway Co. v. Shanklin
April 17, 2000529 U.S. 344
Summary
The Court held that the Federal Railroad Safety Act preempts a state tort claim alleging that federally funded grade-crossing warning devices were inadequate. Because federal funds participated in installing the signs and the applicable regulations governed the devices' adequacy, federal law displaced Tennessee law on that subject. Justice Breyer concurred in the judgment while suggesting that the agency could amend its regulations to preserve state tort claims concerning devices providing only minimum protection, and Justice Ginsburg, joined by Justice Stevens, would have affirmed the Court of Appeals.