Residents of the city of East Palestine, Ohio, could be beneficiaries of a settlement agreement related to a class action lawsuit over the train derailment accident just off the Pennsylvania border.
According to the Norfolk Southern company press release, a $600 million compensation fund has been made available to plaintiffs that consolidates all claims from people living within a 20-mile radius of the derailment. as well as personal injury claims from those who live within 10 miles of the point where the accident occurred.
The 2023 Norfolk Southern Train Accident
According to Norfolk Southern, all affected individuals and businesses who are considered qualifying claimants can use compensation to mitigate the negative effects of the derailment, which occurred on February 3, 2023 at 8:55 a.m. The Norfolk Southern freight train was carrying chemical and volatile materials in 38 cars that derailed. Several cars burned for more than two days, and emergency teams also had to carry out controlled burning of several cars to eliminate all of the chemicals. As a result, hydrogen chloride and phosgene were released into the environment.
Residents within a one-mile radius were evacuated, and agencies from the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Virginia assisted in caring for people living in radiuses up to 20 miles away, as mentioned above.
Norfolk Southern Derailment — $600M Class Action Settlement
It is worth noting that the railway company does not assume or admit responsibility or irregularity; However, it agrees to pay the 600 million dollars in order to put an end to this litigation that has been going on for more than a year and that could last for several years with million-dollar costs for both the company and the plaintiffs, if it becomes a court case.
Norfolk Southern says it has already invested more than $1.1 billion in measures to respond to the derailment and to prevent future similar events, including more than $104 million in direct assistance to East Palestine and its residents.
How Much Money Will I Receive as a Plaintiff in the East Palestine Class Action Lawsuit?
Hundreds of East Palestine residents are still unsure whether the railroad’s $600 million class-action settlement is in their best interest, and have asked for extensions to discuss the issue with their legal representatives. proposal before making a final decision.
It is estimated that more than 190,000 people could benefit from the possible $600 million settlement that has already received approval from a court in Ohio. In the hypothetical case that all of these people are claimants and qualify to receive a payment, the average payment would be around $3,157 per person. However, the amount could vary, and it definitely will because not everyone qualifies to receive the same amount of money.
Proximity to the location of the incident will determine how much money each individual will receive. For example, those who reside within a two-mile radius may be eligible to receive up to $70,000, but that amount is not final and could vary. People residing within a 10-mile radius of the accident face the decision of whether or not to accept compensation of up to $25,000 per person for personal injuries.
