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STOPPING THE TRAIN:
The Landmark Victory Over
Same-Sex Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
by Edwin Berry Martin, Jr.,
with Richard N. Côté

ISBN 1-929175-08-8. Trade hardcover, 6"x9", 180 pp. $24.95

Publication date: October 30, 1999

Between late November 1993 until April 4, 1996, in Birmingham, Alabama, a career railroad man's livelihood was destroyed ny same-sex sexual harassment. Eddie Martin, a mechanical maintenance supervisor with Norfolk Southern Corporation, was subjected to horrific harassment at work by a gang of sexual thugs. The actions and words hurled at Eddie from his three attackers forced him to withdraw from life. As he felt the last of his mental and physical faculties slipping away, he decided to fight back in the only way he could: he took Norfolk Southern and his attackers to court.

On March 4, 1998, the Supreme Court amended the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include same-sex sexual harassment. Eddie Martin's successful suit against Norfolk Southern was the first to achieve tangible justice as a result of the Supreme Court's decision that same-sex sexual harassment not only existed but was actionable under federal law. This powerful true story, told in first person, provides details on Eddie's unique story and his landmark case.

Eddie's ancestors had been railroad men for four generations. As a child, he was fascinated by the railroad jobs held by his father and two grandfathers. He dreamed of the day that he, too, would work on the giant locomotives. Even as a young boy, he knew he would carry on the family tradition. In 1979, Eddie jumped at the opportunity to follow in his father's footsteps. When the Southern Railroad offered him a position in the mechanical department, he knew that he had found his calling. Thus began a fifteen-year career with the Southern Railroad in his native South Carolina. Because of downsizing, he was transferred to Birmingham, Alabama in 1993.

Immediately upon starting his job in Birmingham, Eddie was sexually harassed by his boss, Larry Hornbuckle. At first, he dismissed Hornbuckle's behavior as a hazing ritual for new employees. However, as the weeks stretched to months, and the intensity of the attacks increased with two more men joining in, Eddie knew he was in trouble. From grabbing his genitals to forcefully bending him over a desk, his predators subjected him to a nightmarish reality. Eddie lost over thirty-five pounds and began suffering from intense anxiety as a result of the sexual harassment. He forcefully and repeatedly told the men to stop, but to no avail.

Finally, Eddie realized that his livelihood -- if not his sanity -- would require him to take serious action. He spoke to therapists and doctors about his distress. They were alarmed by the symptoms of his physical and mental breakdown, as well as his turn towards alcohol as a solution. When protests to railroad management fell on deaf ears, Eddie filed suit with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in March of 1994.

In the midst of the crisis, a small miracle happened. Eddie found his soulmate. He and his fianceé, Marcia Maxwell, were married while he was in the middle of this hellish confrontation. She talked with him about his problems and helped him decide on a course of action they hoped would lead to justice. Through it all, Marcia helped keep Eddie's spirits up, even though she herself began to suffer from the torments inflicted upon the man she loved.

After months of depositions, stonewalling, and legal battles, Eddie had his case heard in court. With the help of his attorneys, he presented his case. Things looked bleak as the defense team attempted to depict him as an incompetent supervisor. As a second day of jury deliberations began, the judge urged him to take the $75, 000 offered by the defendants. Eddie stood firm.

It was vindication at last when the case was decided for the plaintiff in the amount of $375,000. This landmark case was the first to see a tangible reward from the Supreme Court's ruling on Title VII. Eddie's case helped change the business world's policies and training routines. And at the trial's end, Eddie, with Marcia by his side, was finally able to walk tall with his pride intact.

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About The Author

Edwin Berry Martin, Jr., a third-generation railroad man, was born in 1955 in Greenville, South Carolina. He graduated from Wade Hampton High School in 1973 and studied business administration at North Greenville Technical College for three years. His love of railroading led him to join the Southern Railroad (which later merged to become the Norfolk Southern Corporation) in 1982. He rose through the ranks to become a Mechanical Supervisor and was a dedicated railroad employee until he was transferred to Birmingham, Alabama, and the horrific sexual harassment began. He married Marcia Maxwell on April 6, 1994.

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About The Literary Collaborator

One of America's busiest and most-respected literary collaborators, Richard N. Côté worked closely with the author to outline, develop, and refine the text.

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