EAST PALESTINE
Train Derailment Settlement
Settlement Class Members who filed a valid Claim for a Personal Injury Payment will receive a Personal Injury Payment Determination letter. The letter will provide the amount calculated using the formula in the Court approved Plan of Distribution posted in the Documents section of this website. If the Settlement Class Member does not agree with the amount of the Personal Injury Payment, an appeal may be submitted by completing the Affirmation and Certification page enclosed with this the letter.
To expedite your payment, you may request your Personal Injury Payment to be made via ACH deposit. Instructions to request an ACH deposit will be provided in the Personal Injury Payment Determination letter. If you do not request an ACH deposit, you will receive a Personal Injury Payment letter from the Settlement Administrator. The letter will provide instructions on scheduling an appointment to pick up your Personal Injury Payment check from the Settlement Center located at 191 E Rebecca St., East Palestine, OH 44413. You may schedule an appointment to pick up your Personal Injury Payment only if you received a Personal Injury Payment letter.
The Personal Injury Payment is separate and apart from the Direct Payment Claim. Payment in connection with Direct Payment Claims are currently pending appeal and will be handled at a later date, once the status of the appeal has been determined.
The Claim Deadline is August 22, 2024 11:59 pm ET. All Direct Payment, Personal Injury and Business Loss claims must be filed by the Claim Deadline. If your Household filed a Direct Claim but overlooked the Personal Injury Payment for any Household members, the Household members can still elect to participate and receive a Personal Injury Payment. The Settlement assumes that everyone physically present within 10 miles of the derailment is qualified to receive an additional payment for personal injury in exchange for a release of these claims. Contact the Settlement Administrator, or visit the East Palestine Settlement Center for more information.
ABOUT THE LAWSUIT
Residents, property owners, and businesses located within 20 miles of the Derailment Site in East Palestine, Ohio sued, among others, Norfolk Southern Corporation and Norfolk Southern Railway Company for losses suffered from the Norfolk Southern train Derailment that occurred on February 3, 2023, including the controlled “vent and burn” of five railcars that occurred on February 6, 2023 (collectively, the "Incident").
Capitalized terms on this website have the definition provided in the Settlement Agreement.
For questions regarding chemical exposure, please click here for answers from a physician working with plaintiffs’ counsel.
WHAT CAN YOU GET?
The Settlement provides $600 million to pay valid Claims. The amount you are eligible to receive from the Settlement may depend on, among other things:
- Where you live
- Household size
- Acreage
- Length of displacement
- Property damage
- Compensation based on Exposure or Personal Injury
FILE A CLAIM
You must file a Claim by August 22, 2024 11:59 pm ET to be eligible to receive benefits from this Settlement.
Select the forms that apply to you:
KEY DATES
Your legal rights are affected by this Settlement whether you act or not.- Submit a Claim by August 22, 2024 11:59 pm ET (DEADLINE HAS PASSED)
- Submit an Objection by July 1, 2024 (DEADLINE HAS PASSED)
- Request to be Excluded by July 1, 2024 (DEADLINE HAS PASSED)
Visit the FAQ page for more details.
DO YOU NEED HELP?
VISIT THE EAST PALESTINE SETTLEMENT CENTER
New Hours as of September 17, 2024:
| Day | Office Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | 8:30 am - 6:00 pm |
| Wednesday | 10:00 am - 7:00 pm |
| Thursday | 10:00 am - 7:00 pm |
| Friday | 9:00 am - 5:00 pm |
The East Palestine Settlement Center has reopened to assist Settlement Class Members with curing any deficiencies with respect to Claims or Personal Injury Release forms they may have submitted. If you received a deficiency letter, please follow the instructions.
Appointments are strongly recommended. Please contact 833-425-3400 to schedule an appointment.
We will NOT be accepting new Claim Forms.
CONTACT US
If you have any questions, please contact the Settlement Administrator.
By Phone:
1-833-425-3400
By Email:
This email address should not be used to send Claim Forms, Personal Injury Releases or supporting claim documentation. Please contact the Settlement Administrator for alternative delivery options, or mail the materials to:
In re: East Palestine Train Derailment Settlement
c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC
PO Box 5324
New York, NY 10150-5324.