Federal judge consolidates 31 Norfolk Southern lawsuits, names lead counsel

Benjamin Duer, The Repository
·2 min read
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A view of the scene Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, as the cleanup continues at the site of of a Norfolk Southern freight train derailment that happened on Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
A view of the scene Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, as the cleanup continues at the site of of a Norfolk Southern freight train derailment that happened on Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

YOUNGSTOWN – A federal judge has consolidated 31 federal lawsuits filed against Norfolk Southern over the fiery train derailment in East Palestine two months ago.

Judge Benita Y. Pearson of the U.S. District Court's Northern District of Ohio also appointed four attorneys to be co-lead counsel for the combined legal actions.

The lead attorneys will be Seth A. Katz, M. Elizabeth Graham, Jayne Conroy and T. Michael Morgan. They will steer the litigation through the court. The consolidation does not include lawsuits filed by the federal and state governments, only individuals and businesses.

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At least 31 lawsuits were initially filed against Norfolk Southern after one of its freight trains derailed Feb. 3 in East Palestine, a small town in Columbiana County.

The train was carrying hazardous materials to Conway, Pennsylvania, when it wrecked and caught fire, forcing evacuations. A controlled release of vinyl chloride, a toxic and flammable gas, in five cars was conducted Feb. 6 to prevent a possible explosion.

Katz, Graham, Conroy and Morgan issued the following statement Friday regarding their appointment: “We’re honored by the court’s order appointing us as co-lead counsel for the litigation against the Norfolk Southern Railway Company arising out of its February 3rd train derailment and subsequent environmental disaster. We are ready and eager to serve the people of East Palestine and surrounding areas, whose lives have been disrupted and endangered by this wholly preventable catastrophe.”

Katz is with Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine; Graham is with Grant & Eisenhofer; Conroy is with Simmons Hanly Conroy; and, Morgan is with Morgan & Morgan.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Judge Benita Pearson consolidates Norfolk Southern lawsuits