Norfolk Southern Agrees to $600 Million Settlement Over East Palestine Derailment
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Norfolk Southern agreed to pay residents of East Palestine, Ohio $600 million to settle a class action lawsuit over 2023’s fiery train derailment.
The Details: The agreement includes payments to residents and businesses within 20 miles of the derailment and resolves personal injury claims within a 10-mile radius. Norfolk Southern has already paid $104 million in community assistance for East Palestine and its residents.
Key Quotes: In a Tuesday news release, the company framed the agreement as “another promise kept by Norfolk Southern to make it right for the people of East Palestine and the surrounding communities.” While the agreement was “designed to provide finality and flexibility for settlement class members,” Norfolk Southern said, it also “does not include or constitute any admission of liability, wrongdoing, or fault.”
How the Media Covered It: Coverage was common and fairly similar across the spectrum, with some more sensational outlets publishing wire service articles instead of original coverage. AP (Lean Left bias) stood out by highlighting concerns that the settlement was potentially insufficient to meet residents’ needs — including by highlighting Norfolk Southern’s $3 billion Q1 2024 revenue.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
Railroad agrees to $600 million settlement for fiery Ohio derailment, residents fear it’s not enough
Norfolk Southern has agreed to pay $600 million in a class-action lawsuit settlement for a fiery train derailment in February 2023 in eastern Ohio, but local residents worry the money won’t go very far because their potential health needs down the road may be tremendous.
“It’s not nowhere near my needs let alone what the health effects are going to be 5 or 10 years down the road,” said Eric Cozza, who had 47 family members living within one-mile of the derailment.
The settlement also represents only a small slice of the...
From the Right
Norfolk Southern agrees to $600 million settlement for East Palestine train derailment
The company whose freight train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, causing a massive chemical spill last year has reached a $600 million settlement agreement with residents.
Norfolk Southern on Tuesday announced an agreement in principle to resolve a class action lawsuit brought by residents and businesses impacted by the derailment. If accepted by the court, the settlement will provide financial payments to members of the community and includes a voluntary program to compensate individuals for past, present and future injuries resulting from exposure to toxic chemicals, attorneys for the plaintiffs said. ...
From the Center
Norfolk Southern Settles East Palestine Derailment Lawsuit For $600 Million
Norfolk Southern will pay $600 million to settle a class-action lawsuit related to last year’s train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, the company announced Tuesday, following complaints from residents who said they were affected by the incident after hazardous chemicals leaked into the nearby water, air and soil.
The settlement, if approved by the court, will resolve all class action claims from a 20-mile radius of the derailment and personal injury claims within a 10-mile radius for those who choose to participate, Norfolk Southern said.
Compensation from the settlement can be...
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