EAST PALESTINE - A new lawsuit has been filed against Norfolk Southern in connection with the East Palestine train derailment from February of 2023.

In the new lawsuit, attorneys representing several East Palestine residents and businesses say Norfolk Southern settled a class action lawsuit for 4.94% of its 2023 revenue, which was $33.3 million per day.

Meanwhile, attorneys say the plaintiffs continue to suffer from the aftermath of the derailment each day.

"While the people of East Palestine and the surrounding area continue to suffer, Norfolk [Southern] only 'suffered' 18 days' worth of lost revenue to compensate the people," the suit reads.

The suit goes on to say Norfolk Southern has a history of "putting profits over the health, safety and welfare of the communities its trains traverse," listing several incidents from previous years.

The suit notes that in 2021 alone, Norfolk Southern had 38 incidents in Ohio alone, and that at least 20 of the rail company's derailments since 2015 have involved chemical releases.

Attorneys also reiterated numerous actions Norfolk Southern took over the course of the incident, including the inspection process before the derailment and the vent and burn process following the derailment. 

In 2024, the National Transportation Safety Bureau discussed these actions at length and how they may have contributed to the derailment and its aftermath. You can read much more about those in our related coverage below.

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