Railroad Lawsuit Asthma: 2026 Claims and Settlements

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Railroad lawsuit asthma cases are surging in 2026 as more workers connect their breathing problems to years of diesel exhaust exposure on the job. If you worked on or near locomotives and now struggle with asthma, you may have a strong FELA claim worth significant compensation.

The numbers back this up. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified diesel exhaust as a Group 1 carcinogen. That same exhaust triggers and worsens asthma in railroad workers at alarming rates.

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This article covers everything you need to take action. You will learn who qualifies, what settlements look like, how to prove your case, and the exact deadlines that could make or break your claim.

One fact that surprises many workers: FELA cases only require you to prove the railroad was even partially at fault. That is a much lower bar than most people expect.

Railroad Lawsuit Asthma: What You Need to Know in 2026

A railroad lawsuit for asthma is a legal claim filed under the Federal Employers Liability Act by a railroad worker whose asthma was caused or made worse by workplace conditions. These cases target the railroad’s failure to provide a safe working environment.

In 2026, these lawsuits are gaining momentum. More medical research links diesel particulate matter to chronic airway inflammation. Courts are increasingly receptive to asthma as a standalone occupational injury.

Unlike workers’ compensation, FELA requires you to show the railroad was negligent. But the threshold is low. You only need to prove the railroad’s negligence played some role in your condition.

Most railroad workers don’t realize they have this option. Many assume workers’ comp is their only path. It is not. FELA gives you the right to sue your employer directly.

The cases filed in 2025 and early 2026 have focused heavily on major Class I railroads. Companies like BNSF, Union Pacific, CSX, and Norfolk Southern are named defendants in active litigation.

Railroad Asthma Lawsuit Settlement Amounts and Ranges

Railroad asthma lawsuit settlements in 2026 typically range from $150,000 to over $1 million, depending on the severity of your condition and how much your daily life has been affected.

Several factors drive settlement size. The biggest ones are your medical costs, lost income, pain levels, and how well your legal team documents the railroad’s negligence.

Mild asthma cases with limited work disruption tend to settle on the lower end. Severe cases where a worker can no longer perform their job or needs ongoing treatment push into six and seven figures.

These numbers come from reported FELA verdicts and settlement disclosures in respiratory disease cases. Every case is different. But these ranges give you a realistic picture.

Railroads prefer to settle quietly. They want to avoid jury trials where sympathy for a sick worker can drive awards much higher. That works in your favor during negotiations.

Think of it like this: the railroad knows a jury might hand you more than a settlement would cost. That pressure motivates them to offer a fair number before things go to trial.

Can I Sue the Railroad for Asthma

Yes, you can sue the railroad for asthma if your condition was caused or aggravated by workplace exposure to diesel exhaust, chemicals, or other harmful substances during your employment.

FELA covers this exact situation. The law was created in 1908 specifically to protect railroad workers who get hurt or sick on the job. It applies to every railroad engaged in interstate commerce.

You do not need to prove the railroad was 100% at fault. Even if the company was only 10% responsible for your asthma, you can recover 10% of your damages. That partial liability standard makes FELA claims much more accessible than typical lawsuits.

Here are the basic requirements:

• You worked for a railroad covered by FELA
• You were exposed to diesel fumes, chemicals, or dust on the job
• You developed asthma or your existing asthma got significantly worse
• The railroad failed to protect you from known hazards

Many workers hesitate because they think their asthma is “just allergies” or something they were born with. But if railroad work made it worse, that counts. The law protects you for aggravation of a pre-existing condition too.

Active employees can file while still working. You do not need to quit your job first. Federal law prohibits the railroad from retaliating against you for filing a FELA claim.

Key Takeaway: Railroad workers with asthma from diesel exhaust exposure can file FELA lawsuits in 2026, with settlements ranging from $150,000 to over $1 million depending on severity, and only partial railroad negligence is required.

Railroad Asthma Compensation Amounts by Severity

Railroad asthma compensation amounts in 2026 are determined by the financial, physical, and emotional toll your condition has taken on your life. There is no fixed formula, but specific damage categories shape every payout.

Compensation breaks down into several buckets. Each one gets calculated separately and then combined into your total claim value.

Economic damages include every dollar you can document:

• Past and future medical bills (inhalers, specialists, ER visits, pulmonary rehab)
• Lost wages from missed work
• Reduced earning capacity if you had to take a lower-paying job or retire early
• Out-of-pocket costs for medication, travel to doctors, home modifications

Non-economic damages cover the things you can’t put a receipt on:

• Physical pain and discomfort
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Emotional distress and anxiety related to breathing difficulties
• Impact on family relationships and daily activities

A worker who used to pull 60-hour weeks as a conductor but now can barely climb stairs has a very different claim than someone whose asthma is controlled with a daily inhaler. Courts and juries understand this difference.

The total compensation reflects your unique situation. Two workers at the same company with the same diagnosis can receive very different amounts based on how the disease has changed their lives.

How to File a Railroad Asthma Lawsuit

Filing a railroad asthma lawsuit starts with gathering your medical records and connecting with a lawyer who specializes in FELA claims. The process has several clear steps, and timing matters at every stage.

Step 1: Document your condition. Get a current diagnosis from a pulmonologist. Make sure your medical records connect your asthma to workplace exposure. Occupational asthma testing can specifically identify work-related triggers.

Step 2: Preserve evidence of exposure. This includes your work history, job assignments, locations you worked, types of equipment around you, and any safety complaints you made. Old photos, coworker statements, and union records help too.

Step 3: Contact a FELA attorney. Most FELA lawyers work on contingency. That means you pay nothing upfront. They only get paid if you win.

Step 4: File the lawsuit. Your attorney files the complaint in federal or state court. The railroad gets served and the discovery process begins.

Step 5: Negotiate or go to trial. Most cases settle before trial. But having a lawyer willing to go to court gives you stronger leverage in negotiations.

Do not report your injury or illness to the railroad’s claims department without legal guidance first. The railroad’s adjusters work for the company, not for you. What you say to them can be used to reduce your claim.

Railroad Asthma Lawsuit Eligibility Requirements

You are eligible for a railroad asthma lawsuit in 2026 if you worked for a railroad, were exposed to respiratory hazards on the job, and developed or worsened asthma as a result. Both current and former employees qualify.

FELA does not limit claims to specific job titles. Engineers, conductors, brakemen, switchmen, carmen, track workers, yard crew, mechanics, and shop workers all have valid grounds if they breathed diesel fumes or chemical irritants at work.

Here is what makes you eligible:

• Employment status: You must be or have been an employee (not an independent contractor) of a railroad engaged in interstate commerce
• Exposure: You were regularly exposed to diesel exhaust, welding fumes, solvents, brake dust, creosote, herbicides, or other airway irritants
• Diagnosis: A doctor has diagnosed you with asthma, reactive airway disease, or occupational asthma
• Causation link: Your condition started or got measurably worse during your railroad career
• Timeframe: You are within the statute of limitations (generally 3 years from when you knew or should have known the cause)

Retired workers are absolutely eligible. Many former railroaders don’t develop severe symptoms until years after they leave the job. The statute of limitations clock starts when you discover the connection between your asthma and your railroad work, not when you left the company.

You do not need to have filed a workplace injury report at the time of exposure. Many respiratory conditions develop gradually, and most workers never filed reports about breathing diesel fumes because it was just considered part of the job.

Key Takeaway: Eligibility for a railroad asthma lawsuit extends to current employees, retirees, and any railroad worker who can show a link between their workplace exposure and their asthma diagnosis, regardless of job title.

FELA Lawsuit for Asthma: How Federal Law Protects Workers

The Federal Employers Liability Act is the specific federal law that allows railroad workers to sue their employer for asthma caused by job-related exposure. FELA replaces the traditional workers’ compensation system for railroad employees.

This distinction matters a lot. Workers’ comp in most states pays a fixed schedule of benefits regardless of fault. FELA is different. It allows you to file a negligence lawsuit and recover full damages, including pain and suffering.

Under FELA, you must prove that the railroad was negligent. But “negligence” under FELA has a very broad definition. Courts have interpreted it to mean even the slightest failure to provide a reasonably safe workplace.

Here is what FELA negligence looks like in asthma cases:

• Failing to ventilate enclosed areas where diesel engines run
• Not providing respiratory protection in rail yards or maintenance shops
• Ignoring known hazards of diesel particulate matter
• Allowing locomotives to idle near crew quarters or break areas
• Failing to maintain or upgrade aging diesel engines with excessive emissions

The “featherweight” burden of proof in FELA cases is well established in case law. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Rogers v. Missouri Pacific Railroad (1957) that FELA cases should go to a jury if there is any evidence, even slight, that the railroad’s negligence contributed to the injury.

That ruling still guides courts today. It is one of the strongest worker protections in American law.

Railroad Occupational Asthma Explained

Railroad occupational asthma is asthma that develops specifically because of substances you inhale at your railroad job. It is different from regular asthma because the workplace is the direct trigger.

Two forms exist. The first is “sensitizer-induced” occupational asthma, where repeated exposure to a substance (like diesel exhaust) causes your immune system to develop an allergic response over time. The second is “irritant-induced” occupational asthma, where a single high-level exposure or repeated irritant contact inflames your airways.

Railroad workers face both types. Daily diesel fume inhalation over months or years sensitizes the bronchial tubes. Sudden exposures during fuel spills, engine malfunctions, or confined space work can trigger acute irritant-induced asthma.

Symptoms of railroad occupational asthma include:

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• Wheezing that gets worse during or after shifts
• Chest tightness that improves on days off or vacations
• Chronic cough, especially in the morning or at night after a shift
• Shortness of breath during physical tasks you used to handle easily
• Increased inhaler use during work periods compared to time away

The pattern is the key indicator. If your breathing problems follow your work schedule (worse during work weeks, better during vacation), that strongly suggests an occupational cause.

NIOSH (the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) has published multiple studies documenting elevated respiratory disease rates among railroad workers compared to the general population. These studies specifically identify diesel particulate matter as a primary contributor.

Diesel Exhaust Asthma Lawsuit Against Railroads

A diesel exhaust asthma lawsuit targets the railroad for exposing workers to harmful diesel particulate matter without adequate safety measures. These lawsuits argue that railroads knew diesel fumes were dangerous and failed to act.

The science on diesel exhaust is not debatable at this point. The World Health Organization’s IARC classified diesel engine exhaust as a Group 1 carcinogen in 2012. That is the highest danger category, the same level as asbestos and tobacco smoke.

But diesel exhaust doesn’t just cause cancer. It causes inflammation of the airways, triggers asthma attacks, and can permanently damage lung tissue. Particles small enough to reach the deepest parts of your lungs cause chronic irritation that leads to persistent asthma.

What makes these lawsuits strong in 2026:

• Decades of published research confirming diesel exhaust harms the lungs
• IARC Group 1 carcinogen classification
• EPA findings that diesel particulate matter causes respiratory illness
• OSHA standards that many railroads have historically ignored or skirted
• Internal railroad documents (discovered in previous lawsuits) showing companies knew about health risks

Railroads have been on notice for decades. The strongest lawsuits show that the company had the information, had the ability to reduce exposure, and chose not to spend the money.

Key Takeaway: Diesel exhaust is classified at the highest danger level by international health agencies, and railroads have known for decades that their workers face elevated asthma risks from fume exposure, making these lawsuits increasingly hard for companies to defend.

Railroad Diesel Fume Exposure and Your Lungs

Railroad diesel fume exposure damages your lungs through a combination of ultra-fine particles, toxic gases, and chemical compounds that your body was never designed to handle day after day. The damage is real, measurable, and progressive.

Diesel particulate matter (DPM) consists of tiny particles, many smaller than 2.5 micrometers. For perspective, a human hair is about 70 micrometers thick. These particles are small enough to pass through your nose and throat filters and lodge deep in your lung tissue.

Once inside your lungs, DPM triggers an inflammatory response. Your airways swell. Mucus production increases. The smooth muscle around your bronchial tubes contracts. That is an asthma attack in slow motion.

Where railroad workers face the highest exposure:

• Locomotive cabs (especially older models with poor ventilation)
• Rail yards during engine idling
• Maintenance shops and roundhouses
• Tunnels and enclosed loading areas
• Near running consists during switching operations
• Fueling stations

The exposure isn’t a one-time event. It is cumulative. A conductor who breathes diesel fumes for 8 to 12 hours a day, 5 days a week, for 15 years has absorbed a massive toxic load. That cumulative exposure is what transforms healthy lungs into asthmatic lungs.

Many railroads still run locomotives built in the 1990s or earlier. These older engines produce significantly more particulate emissions than newer Tier 4 compliant units. Workers assigned to older equipment carry a disproportionate health burden.

Railroad Asthma Medical Evidence You Will Need

The medical evidence you need for a railroad asthma claim includes a formal asthma diagnosis, pulmonary function test results, treatment records, and a doctor’s opinion linking your condition to workplace exposure. Without solid medical documentation, your case loses power.

Essential medical records include:

• Pulmonary function tests (PFTs): Spirometry showing airway obstruction and bronchodilator response is the gold standard for diagnosing asthma
• Methacholine challenge test: This test measures airway hyperreactivity and can confirm an asthma diagnosis even when spirometry looks normal
• Chest X-rays or CT scans: These rule out other conditions and document any structural lung changes
• Treatment history: Records of every inhaler prescription, nebulizer treatment, ER visit, and specialist appointment
• Occupational health assessment: A doctor’s written opinion that your asthma is causally connected to railroad work

The most powerful piece of evidence is an expert medical opinion from a pulmonologist who specializes in occupational lung disease. This doctor reviews your work history, exposure records, and medical data, then writes a report stating that your railroad job caused or worsened your asthma.

Start documenting now. If you don’t have a formal asthma diagnosis yet, get one. See a pulmonologist, not just your family doctor. Specialists carry more weight in court.

Keep a log of your symptoms. Note when they get worse (during shifts, in certain areas, around specific equipment). This pattern evidence can be extremely valuable.

Railroad Company Negligence in Asthma Cases

Railroad company negligence in asthma cases means the railroad failed to take reasonable steps to protect you from breathing hazards it knew about or should have known about. Proving this negligence is the foundation of every FELA claim.

Negligence doesn’t mean the railroad intended to harm you. It means the company didn’t do what a reasonable employer would do to keep its workers safe. And when it comes to diesel fume exposure, most major railroads have fallen far short of that standard.

Common forms of railroad negligence in asthma cases:

• Not providing respirators or masks in high-exposure areas
• Running old, high-emission locomotives without upgrades
• Allowing engines to idle near crew quarters, break rooms, or offices
• Failing to install proper ventilation in maintenance shops
• Not monitoring air quality in rail yards or enclosed work areas
• Ignoring worker complaints about fumes and breathing problems
• Failing to train workers on the dangers of diesel exhaust

Think of it this way: if your neighbor ran a diesel generator next to your bedroom window every night for 20 years, and you developed asthma, you’d expect some accountability. Railroads do something similar to their workers, just on a much larger scale.

Internal company documents uncovered in past litigation have shown that some railroads conducted their own health studies, found elevated respiratory disease rates among employees, and buried the results. That kind of evidence is devastating in court.

The railroad will argue that it met all regulatory requirements. But FELA doesn’t just ask whether the company followed regulations. It asks whether the company took reasonable precautions. Those are two different standards, and the reasonable precaution standard is harder for railroads to meet.

Key Takeaway: Railroad negligence in asthma cases often includes failing to provide respiratory protection, running outdated high-emission equipment, and ignoring known health risks from diesel exhaust, all of which strengthen a worker’s FELA claim.

Filing a Railroad Worker Asthma Claim

Filing a railroad worker asthma claim is a legal action separate from any company injury reporting system. You file this claim through the court system under FELA, not through your railroad’s internal claims department.

This is a point of confusion for many workers. The railroad’s claims adjusters may tell you to fill out their forms and go through their process. That process exists to protect the company, not you. A FELA lawsuit is your process.

What you should do before filing:

• Gather all medical records related to your respiratory health
• Compile your employment history with dates, locations, and job duties
• Collect any safety complaints you filed or witnessed
• Identify coworkers who can confirm exposure conditions
• Find a FELA attorney with specific experience in respiratory disease cases

What you should not do:

• Do not give a recorded statement to the railroad’s claims department without your lawyer present
• Do not sign any release or settlement offer from the railroad before getting legal advice
• Do not post about your case or health condition on social media
• Do not assume your time has run out; talk to a lawyer first

Your attorney handles the actual filing. They draft the complaint, identify the correct court, and manage all legal procedures. Your job is to provide the facts and show up when needed.

FELA Claim for Respiratory Disease Beyond Asthma

A FELA claim for respiratory disease covers conditions beyond asthma, including COPD, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis, and reactive airway disease. If your lungs were damaged by railroad work, the legal framework applies broadly.

Many railroad workers have more than one respiratory diagnosis. A worker might start with asthma and later develop COPD. Or they might be diagnosed with both chronic bronchitis and asthma simultaneously. FELA covers all of these conditions if they are connected to workplace exposure.

Respiratory conditions commonly seen in railroad FELA claims:

• Occupational asthma
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Chronic bronchitis
• Emphysema
• Reactive airway disease (RAD)
• Pulmonary fibrosis (from certain chemical exposures)
• Lung cancer (from diesel exhaust classified as Group 1 carcinogen)

If you started your case with an asthma claim and later receive a more serious diagnosis, your claim can be updated. The compensation should reflect the full scope of your illness.

Some workers have conditions they haven’t even named yet. Persistent cough, exercise intolerance, and frequent respiratory infections could point to an occupational lung disease that hasn’t been formally diagnosed. Getting a proper workup from a pulmonologist is the first step toward understanding your legal options.

Railroad Worker Lung Disease Lawsuit Options

Railroad worker lung disease lawsuits in 2026 offer several legal paths, with FELA being the primary and most effective route for employees of major railroads. Each option has different strengths depending on your situation.

Option 1: FELA Lawsuit. This is the standard approach for railroad employees. You sue your employer for negligence. You can recover full damages with no caps. Most railroad respiratory disease cases follow this path.

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Option 2: Federal Employers Liability Act claims filed alongside state tort claims. In some situations, you might have claims against third parties (equipment manufacturers, chemical suppliers) in addition to your FELA claim against the railroad.

Option 3: Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits. This is not a lawsuit, but it provides monthly income if your respiratory disease prevents you from working. You can pursue disability benefits and a FELA lawsuit simultaneously.

These options are not mutually exclusive. A worker with severe occupational asthma might file a FELA lawsuit against the railroad, a product liability claim against a locomotive manufacturer for faulty ventilation systems, and an application for disability benefits through the Railroad Retirement Board.

Your attorney can evaluate which combination makes sense for your specific circumstances. The goal is maximum total recovery across all available channels.

Key Takeaway: Railroad workers with lung disease have multiple legal options in 2026, including FELA lawsuits, third-party claims, and disability benefits, which can be pursued simultaneously to maximize total compensation.

Occupational Asthma from Diesel Exhaust: The Science

Occupational asthma from diesel exhaust is a clinically recognized condition supported by decades of peer-reviewed research showing that diesel particulate matter causes airway inflammation, bronchial hyperreactivity, and chronic asthma in exposed workers.

The science is not speculative. It is settled. Here is what the research shows.

Diesel particulate matter (DPM) contains over 40 toxic air contaminants. The particles are coated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nitro-PAHs, and other compounds that directly irritate and damage airway tissue.

When you inhale DPM, your body’s immune response kicks in. Inflammatory cells flood your airways. The bronchial lining swells. Mucus glands go into overdrive. Over time, this repeated cycle causes structural changes to your airways, a process called “airway remodeling.”

Key research findings:

• A 2015 study published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that railroad workers exposed to diesel exhaust had significantly higher rates of asthma than unexposed control groups
• NIOSH research documented that locomotive engineers and conductors face diesel particulate concentrations well above recommended exposure limits, especially in older cab designs
• The EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System assessment confirmed that diesel exhaust causes respiratory effects at exposure levels common in occupational settings
• A 2019 study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine demonstrated that diesel particulate exposure increases bronchial hyperreactivity, the hallmark of asthma

This body of evidence is what makes railroad asthma lawsuits viable. The railroad cannot credibly argue that diesel exhaust is harmless. The global scientific community has spoken clearly.

Railroad Lawsuit Asthma Statute of Limitations

The statute of limitations for a railroad lawsuit asthma claim under FELA is 3 years. But the start date of that 3-year clock is more nuanced than most people realize, and getting it wrong can destroy an otherwise strong case.

For traumatic injuries (like a broken bone from a fall), the clock starts on the date of the accident. Asthma is different. Asthma is a gradual onset disease. You don’t wake up one morning and suddenly have it because of yesterday’s shift.

The discovery rule applies to occupational disease claims under FELA. The 3-year clock starts when you knew, or reasonably should have known, that your asthma was caused by your railroad work. That moment is called the “discovery date.”

For some workers, the discovery date is when a doctor first told them their asthma was work-related. For others, it is when they first experienced symptoms that a reasonable person would connect to their job.

A critical warning: Railroads will argue that you should have discovered the cause earlier. If you complained about breathing problems 5 years ago but didn’t file, the railroad might claim your discovery date was 5 years ago, not today.

That is why documentation matters. If you can show that you only recently learned from a medical professional that your asthma was connected to diesel exhaust exposure, that resets the clock.

Do not assume you have missed the window. Speak with a FELA attorney who can analyze your specific timeline. Many workers think they are too late and turn out to be well within the deadline.

Railroad Asthma Settlement Timeline for 2026

The expected timeline for a railroad asthma settlement in 2026 runs approximately 12 to 24 months from the date you file your lawsuit to the date you receive a check. Some cases resolve faster. Complex cases or cases that go to trial take longer.

Here is a realistic breakdown of how the process typically unfolds:

Cases filed in early 2026 with strong medical evidence and clear exposure histories have the best chance of resolving within the calendar year. Cases that require extensive expert development or face aggressive railroad defense tactics may extend into 2027.

What slows cases down:

• Incomplete medical records
• Difficulty locating witnesses or coworkers
• Railroad corporate stonewalling during discovery
• Disputes over the discovery date for statute of limitations
• Multiple medical conditions requiring separate expert opinions

What speeds cases up:

• Complete medical documentation already in hand
• A clear, undisputed work history at a single railroad
• A pulmonologist willing to provide a strong causation opinion
• A FELA attorney with a track record the railroad takes seriously

The railroad’s motivation to settle depends partly on its current litigation docket. If a railroad is facing hundreds of respiratory disease claims, it may choose to settle some cases quickly to manage its overall legal exposure.

Key Takeaway: Railroad asthma cases filed in 2026 typically take 12 to 24 months to resolve, and workers with complete medical records and clear exposure documentation will see the fastest outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the average railroad asthma lawsuit settlement in 2026?

The average railroad asthma settlement in 2026 falls between $250,000 and $750,000 for moderate cases.
Severe cases with career-ending disability have settled for over $1 million.
Your specific amount depends on medical costs, lost income, and the strength of your negligence evidence.

Can I file a railroad asthma lawsuit if I still work for the railroad?

Yes, you can file while actively employed.
FELA prohibits railroads from retaliating against workers who file claims.
Many active employees successfully pursue lawsuits without losing their jobs.

What medical proof do I need for a railroad asthma claim?

You need a formal asthma diagnosis from a pulmonologist, pulmonary function test results, and a medical expert opinion linking your asthma to workplace diesel exhaust exposure.
Treatment records, pharmacy histories, and symptom logs strengthen your case.
The expert medical opinion connecting your asthma to your railroad job is the single most important document.

How long do I have to file a railroad asthma lawsuit under FELA?

The FELA statute of limitations is 3 years from your discovery date.
The discovery date is when you knew or should have known that your asthma was caused by your railroad work.
This is different from the date you were first diagnosed; it is when the work connection became clear.

Does a pre-existing asthma condition disqualify me from suing the railroad?

No, a pre-existing asthma condition does not disqualify you.
Under FELA, if the railroad’s negligence aggravated or worsened your pre-existing asthma, you can recover damages for that worsening.
The railroad is responsible for the additional harm it caused, even if you already had the condition before you started working there.

What to Do Right Now

Railroad asthma claims are time-sensitive. Every month you wait is a month the railroad can argue you didn’t think your condition was serious enough to act on.

Get a pulmonary function test. Pull your work history records. Talk to a FELA attorney who handles respiratory disease cases specifically.

Your lungs did the work. Your employer should bear the cost of the damage. The law is on your side in 2026, but only if you use it before your window closes.

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