Norfolk Southern $600 Million Ohio Derailment Deal Approved (1)

A federal judge on Wednesday approved a $600 million settlement Norfolk Southern Corp. reached for a fiery train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, in February 2023 that traumatized a small community.

Judge Benita Y. Pearson of the Northern District of Ohio said during a hearing in her courtroom in Youngstown that the agreement the railroad giant reached with a class of residents in and around the small village was “fair, adequate, and reasonable.” She noted the overwhelming buy-in from those affected by the derailment and overruled objections made by a small group of residents, some of whom were present.

“I ...