Engineer Bryan Thompson had initially sued BNSF Railway for neglecting safety measures, but added Standard Steel later. Thompson was injured in the derailment, according to court documents.

He alleges that a Standard Steel-made axle “failed suddenly and catastrophically,” causing the derailment, a complaint initially filed in Cass County District Court alleges.

The case was reassigned to a federal judge Thursday, July 28, after a motion from Standard Steel.

On Dec. 30, 2013, a half-mile west of Casselton, a westbound train carrying grain derailed and was struck by an eastbound train carrying crude oil. Oil tank cars exploded and sent thick black smoke into the air. Government officials told Casselton’s 2,400 residents to evacuate.

More than a year after the derailment, BNSF said a broken rail caused the accident.