On January 6, 2005 a train derailment unleashed a cloud of chlorine gas over the small mill town of Graniteville, South Carolina. The toxic release left nine dead, hundreds injured, and thousands more without a home for nearly a week. Last month, a federal judge approved a $10.5 million dollar settlement to compensate those who were seriously injured as a result of the crash.

The agreement will require the railroad owner, Norfolk Southern, to pay damages to approximately 480 people physically injured as a result of the chlorine release. Specifically, for those who sought medical treatment within three months of the toxic release, the settlement will give from $10,000 up to several hundred thousand dollars. The disbursement of the settlement funds will vary according to a number of factors, including seriousness of injuries, proximity of home to the derailment, and reasons for exposure. Surprisingly, there were no objections to the settlement terms among the class action members.

A settlement had already been reached between the railroad and families of those killed as a result of the toxic exposure. Additionally, the railroad previously reached an agreement with those who were forced to evacuate or suffered property damage because of the crash. Besides a host of independent lawsuits against the railroad, last month’s settlement represents the conclusion of the class action lawsuits. As a result, a majority of the litigation has come to an end just two-and-a-half years after the derailment.

Source: Forbes