Proposed settlement reached for personal injuries arising from 2005 train disaster in Graniteville, SC
MOUNT PLEASANT, SC - Motley Rice LLC today announced that an agreement-in-principal by way of a proposed class action settlement has been reached with Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) that would provide compensation for personal injury claims associated with the railroad's January 6, 2005, derailment and chemical spill in Graniteville, SC.
Joe Rice, the Motley Rice member who led the negotiations, stated, "We are proud that we were able to make this settlement happen. The residents of Graniteville have had their life disrupted and are entitled to compensation now and to not have to wait while their cases work their way through the judicial system."
The proposed settlement will provide varying levels of compensation to people who were injured and who received medical treatment, or were hospitalized as a result of the derailment and subsequent release of chlorine. The agreement is for claims that were not part of the prior class action settlement approved last year covering property damage, evacuation expenses and losses, and minor personal injuries. The parties expect to file the motion papers for preliminary approval by the Court in November. In addition to Motley Rice, the proposed class is represented by Richardson Patrick Westbrook & Brickman LLC, Gergel Nickles & Solomon PA, Pierce Herns Sloan & McLeod LLC, Strom Law Firm LLC and Baylen T. Moore, Attorney at Law LLC.