An Ohio court has appointed four attorneys to lead the consolidated legal action over the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine. 

On Friday, Judge Benita Y. Pearson of the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, issued an order to consolidate the 31 lawsuits currently filed over the February 3 Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine.

Pearson has now appointed four attorneys as Co-Lead Counsel of the combined legal actions, which includes Seth A. Katz of Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine, P.C.; M. Elizabeth Graham of Grant & Eisenhofer P.A.; Jayne Conroy of Simmons Hanly Conroy LLC and T. Michael Morgan of Morgan & Morgan, P.A.

All were all named as co-lead counsel.

This group of attorneys will steer the litigation by presenting motions and briefs, designating attorneys to appear and present oral arguments, and coordinating discovery, among other key responsibilities. The plaintiffs in the litigation include individuals, businesses and municipalities.

The legal actions filed look to hold Norfolk Southern railroad accountable for the devastation in East Palestine, alleging negligence of maintenance of its rail cars led to the derailment and its response efforts that resulted in the dumping of 1.1 million pounds of vinyl chloride into the East Palestine area.

The cases are being heard in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.