Norfolk Southern has agreed to pay $600 million to settle class-action lawsuits related to a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The settlement, reportedly the largest ever for a derailment accident in the U.S., will compensate residents, property owners, and businesses within 20 miles of the crash site. Personal injury claims within a 10-mile radius will also be considered separately. While the rail giant does not admit liability, the plaintiffs’ attorneys believe the settlement reflects the community’s concerns and desires for compensation. However, some residents feel the $600 million is inadequate given the potential long-term health effects of exposure to toxic chemicals released during the derailment.
Following the train derailment, Norfolk Southern intentionally burned five tanker cars filled with vinyl chloride, a carcinogenic chemical. The resulting smoke and flames underscored the environmental impact of the disaster. Residents like Misti Allison, who lives near the crash site, are concerned that the settlement amount may not be enough to cover future health costs for individuals affected by the incident. Jami Wallace, president of the Unity Council for the East Palestine Train Derailment, questions how the settlement will address ongoing health issues and environmental contamination caused by the derailment.
Lead attorneys for the plaintiffs estimate that nearly 100,000 people, including 25,000 residents within 10 miles of the crash site and 72,000 within 20 miles, could receive compensation from the settlement. However, the average payment per person could amount to just $6,000 before attorney fees are deducted. The attorneys emphasize that the allocation process will prioritize those most impacted, rather than distributing the funds equally among area residents. They urge community members to be patient as details of the settlement are finalized and payments are distributed.
Despite concerns about the adequacy of the $600 million settlement, attorneys for the plaintiffs defend the agreement as a positive outcome for the affected communities. They stress that the settlement offers financial compensation without the risks and challenges of prolonged litigation. Norfolk Southern has characterized the deal as fulfilling its commitment to the people of East Palestine and surrounding areas. The plaintiffs’ attorneys hope that initial payments could be disbursed by the end of the year, but they caution that accepting compensation for personal injury claims as part of the settlement will prevent individuals from filing future claims.
Residents like Misti Allison express worries about the long-term health effects of exposure to toxic chemicals from the derailment, particularly for first responders and community members who inhaled the fumes unknowingly. They point to the experience of 9/11 responders, whose health issues emerged years after the initial exposure. As the East Palestine community grapples with ongoing health concerns and environmental hazards, the settlement raises questions about the extent to which Norfolk Southern has taken responsibility for the full impact of the train derailment and chemical disaster.
