Norfolk Southern is facing a growing number of lawsuits linked to the catastrophic February 2023 train derailment and subsequent chemical spill in East Palestine, Ohio. Among the plaintiffs are landlords, local businesses, and manufacturers who allege their operations and livelihoods were severely damaged by the environmental fallout.
Landlords, Businesses Sue Over Environmental Damage
In three new lawsuits filed Thursday in Ohio federal court, landlords Daniel Huff and Drew Huff, Birddoghill Kennel, and Unity Tube Inc. accuse Norfolk Southern of negligence that led to the derailment and chemical spill. The plaintiffs argue that the company ignored known safety hazards involving both the train and the East Palestine rail segment before the disaster occurred.
“The company’s reckless actions have caused severe harm to our businesses, disrupting everything from tenant occupancy to customer trust,” said Jon C. Conlin, counsel for the plaintiffs. His firm, Cory Watson Attorneys, has filed a total of nine lawsuits against Norfolk Southern, representing those who opted out of a $600 million class action settlement tied to the incident.
Contaminated Communities, Suffering Businesses
Norfolk Southern has already reached a $22 million settlement with East Palestine for the aftermath of the derailment and toxic spill. However, the new lawsuits spotlight the ripple effect on local businesses and property owners who claim their losses haven’t been adequately addressed.
