Judge Approves $600 Million Ohio Train Derailment Settlement
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A federal judge has signed off on a settlement between Norfolk Southern and those who filed lawsuits over the 2023 East Palestine, Ohio train derailment.
The settlement, which was initially proposed by Norfolk Southern in April, will total $600 million. It aims to resolve all personal injury claims within a 10-mile radius of the derailment site and all class action claims within a 20-mile radius of the derailment site.
Judge Benita Pearson approved the class-action settlement on Wednesday, which will provide a payout to some of those impacted by the crash.
According to WKBN, some residents were against the settlement because they didn’t feel there was yet enough information about the impact of the train derailment to know if they were to be compensated fairly.
According to NewsNation, the immediate reaction from East Palestine residents was that of anger and frustration, with one resident calling the decision a sham as she left the courtroom.
Despite the controversy, around 97% of qualifying residents signed onto the settlement.
The settlement covers lawsuits that stem from the February 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, which resulted in the release of toxic materials such as vinyl chloride into the air.
Train Derailment Lawsuits Stemmed from Questionable Decisions Following Crash
Lawsuits against Norfolk Southern partially stem from the decisions made in the immediate aftermath of the train derailment.
According to PBS, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined over the summer that Norfolk Southern made a mistake when it blew open five tank cars that contained vinyl chloride, venting the gas into the air.
Norfolk Southern had made the decision over concerns that the affected tank cars could explode if not vented.
Vinyl chloride, which according to the CDC is a colorless and potentially flammable gas, can irritate the eyes and respiratory tract while also potentially resulting in liver injury along with neurological or behavioral symptoms.
According to the New York Times, the village’s fire chief said several months after the derailment that he had been “blindsided” by the decision to vent vinyl chloride in daylight.
Lawsuits filed against Norfolk Southern alleged negligence and carelessness, with East Palestine residents complaining of conditions like difficulty breathing and skin irritation.
Editor Lindsay Donaldson contributed to this article.