News & Reviews News Wire Prison inmate sues Norfolk Southern over East Palestine derailment

Prison inmate sues Norfolk Southern over East Palestine derailment

By Trains Staff | April 28, 2023

| Last updated on February 5, 2024

Prisoner seeks $25 million for health issues he says stem from chemical exposure

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Workers and equipment around burned out tank cars
The site of the Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, as seen on Feb. 8, 2023. A prison inmate is suing over chemical exposure as a result of the derailment. Sol Tucker

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — In the latest twist on lawsuits stemming from the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, a prison inmate is suing Norfolk Southern and its CEO, Alan Shaw, over alleged exposure to chemicals as a result of the Feb. 3 incident.

Reuters reports that Joshua Turner, incarcerated at the Ohio State Penitentiary in Youngstown, some 25 miles from the derailment site, filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. His 14-page handwritten complaint says he is experiencing breathing issues, consistent headaches, skin rashes, and “a cough that won’t stop.”

The complaint alleges his 8th Amendment rights against cruel and unusual punishment have been violated by exposure to the chemicals. He seeks $25 million in damages, plus financial support for future health problems.

The railroad does not comment on pending litigation.

The railroad is facing a myriad of lawsuits, including from the U.S. Department of Justice, the Ohio Attorney General, multiple school districts in the East Palestine area, local residents and businesses, and shareholders suing over the loss of stock value as a result of the derailment.

6 thoughts on “Prison inmate sues Norfolk Southern over East Palestine derailment

  1. Send him to the dispensery, sounds like he has covid.

    At least NS could settle this lawsuit for a carton of smokes.

  2. A “Friends of OSP-Youngstown (OSPY)” has been formed to band together for this lawsuit. Ironically, the OSPY folks have contacted the attorney for the “Friends of the Bismarck Bridge (FOBB)” group to handle the OSPY lawsuit. And,like the real Bismarck, the the outcome of the two Friends’ groups lawsuits will be found at the bottom of Davy Jones locker.

  3. Good grief, he is a prisoner! If time travel was possible, he should be sent back to the Roman Empire to see how his fellow prisoners were treated! Upon his return, he would be kissing the floor in his cell!

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