East Palestine Schools plan lawsuit against Norfolk Southern for $30 million

The East Palestine City School District is filing a federal lawsuit against Norfolk Southern, alleging the railroad failed to reimburse emergency response costs and did not fulfill its $30 million commitment to rebuild the district’s athletic facilities and construct a community wellness center after the February 2023 train derailment. The district claims it incurred significant expenses for housing and transporting residents during mandatory evacuations and for providing school facilities as emergency shelters. Norfolk Southern has made some contributions, such as donations for academics and small facility improvements, but the district asserts these fall far short of promised support. The lawsuit, to be filed in Youngstown, seeks to compel Norfolk Southern to meet its obligations and covers both the immediate response costs and long-term community recovery projects. The school district’s superintendent and legal counsel are expected to provide further details during a scheduled news conference. Norfolk Southern has not commented on the pending litigation.