The East Palestine City School District has filed a federal lawsuit against Norfolk Southern, seeking $30 million for broken promises and unreimbursed costs tied to the catastrophic February 3, 2023, train derailment. The toxic incident forced mass evacuations, disrupted school operations, and left long-lasting environmental and economic damage in its wake.
Superintendent James Rook stated the disaster “upended our students’ lives” and accused Norfolk Southern of abandoning commitments to the community. He cited declining student enrollment, long-term health fears, and the company’s failure to follow through on a promised $30 million wellness center as evidence of unmet obligations.
Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, the lawsuit asserts that Norfolk Southern failed to reimburse emergency response costs, including the use of school buildings as command centers and the district’s role in sheltering and transporting evacuees. The suit adds that local property value declines and lost household income have directly weakened school finances.
In response, Norfolk Southern claimed it has reimbursed all submitted invoices and contributed more than $1.1 million to support academic and extracurricular programs. The company denied breaking promises, pointing to its continued financial commitments and a previously announced $22 million settlement with the village of East Palestine.
The derailment, which involved 53 cars and resulted in the intentional burning of toxic chemicals, was later deemed avoidable by the National Transportation Safety Board. NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy sharply criticized Norfolk Southern’s efforts to influence the investigation, calling them “reprehensible.” The final report blamed the crash on a malfunctioning wheel bearing on car 23, which caused the axle to fall off and the train to derail.
The school board’s lawsuit follows a broader class-action suit filed by over 700 residents and a separate $600 million federal settlement for those within 20 miles of the derailment site. Those settlements offered varying compensation amounts based on proximity to the crash, but the school district says its unique costs and obligations remain unmet.
Norfolk Southern also faces a $310 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice, part of a broader federal enforcement effort.
