SEATTLE — In the latest in a series of lawsuits stemming from the fatal 2017 derailment of an Amtrak Cascades train, a 28-year-old Seattle woman has received $6.9 million in damages for injuries she suffered in the accident at DuPont, Wash.
Kylie Steele, who was 24 at the time of the accident, had “a life that was full of promise that was altered forever,” her attorney, James Vucinovich, told the Seattle Times. Amtrak lawyers had questioned the severity of her injuries, arguing in trial briefs that she suffered no broken bones, remains independent and is able to drive, and participates in activities such as running and kayaking. They also disputed that she continued to suffer from post-traumatic stress.
The jury deliberated for just three hours after a five-day federal trial conducted entirely on Zoom.
Prior lawsuits resulting from the crash have seen three people awarded awarded $16.75 million [see “Jury awards millions of dollars …,” Trains News Wire, Sept. 16, 2019] while another passenger received $4.5 million [see “Jury awards $4.5 million …,” News Wire, Nov. 14, 2019].
Sounds like Amtrak has better odds than Mega Millions…
Appears Amtrak got “railroaded”.
Sounds like an appeal is in order.