Eastern Railroad Discussion > Jury finds GATX Not Liable for E. Palestine Lawsuit

 A jury has decided that GATX will not have to pay a portion of a $600 million settlement that Norfolk Southern reached in the wake of a February 2023 derailment in East Palestine.GATX is a rail equipment leasing company that owned one of the rail cars involved in the derailment.The trial, which took place in a federal court in Youngstown, concluded with the jury finding GATX to be not liable in the settlement for damages caused by the derailment and chemical release.

The derailment and vent-and-burn release of toxic vinyl chloride led to the evacuation of thousands of area residents.The settlement came in response to a class action lawsuit filed by residents and businesses affected by the incident.GATX argued in court that NS was liable because it operated and inspected the train and all of its cars, and therefore it was responsible for delivering the cargo safely.OxyVinyls, the chemical company that made the vinyl chloride that was released and burned, has agreed to pay part of the $600 million settlement, although terms of that agreement have not been revealed.