Southern

Tragic Home Explosion in Virginia Sparks Lawsuit Against Southern States Cooperative for Negligence

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STERLING, Va. — Residents of Sterling are reeling after a catastrophic explosion earlier this year claimed the life of a firefighter, prompting legal action against Southern States Cooperative for allegedly overlooking safety concerns. The legal complaint, announced Friday, includes eight plaintiffs, notably Sterling Volunteer Fire Department Captain Karam Mashall and the widow of Trevor Brown, who died while responding to the February 16 incident. The lawsuit, filed in a Virginia state circuit court, accuses Southern States Cooperative of negligence, claiming the company filled a propane tank despite known safety issues just hours before the explosion … Read more

East Palestine School District Sues Norfolk Southern for $30 Million Over Train Derailment Fallout and Unmet Promises

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East Palestine, Ohio — The East Palestine City School District is set to file a lawsuit against Norfolk Southern railroad, seeking to recover costs related to the emergency response following a train derailment that occurred in February 2023. The legal action, anticipated to be filed in federal court in Youngstown, underlines the district’s concerns over the alleged failure of the company to meet its financial obligations. The impending lawsuit will outline the financial burdens incurred due to the derailment, which include expenses for housing and transportation for residents who were evacuated, as well as the … Read more

Norfolk Southern Ordered to Foot Entire $600 Million Bill for East Palestine Derailment, Jury Rules

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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — A recent civil lawsuit verdict has placed full financial responsibility on Norfolk Southern for the $600 million it agreed to compensate those affected by the train derailment in East Palestine on February 3, 2024. The jury concluded that GATX, the provider of the faulty railcar leading to the derailment, was not liable for the damages. Similarly, OxyVinyls, the supplier of the vinyl chloride in the vented and burned railcars, was also cleared of any financial responsibilities related to the incident. The verdict was delivered late Wednesday by an eight-member jury after a … Read more

Hung Jury in Murder Case Against Southern California Judge Ends in Mistrial; Retrial Likely

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Santa Ana, Calif. – A Southern California judge, Jeffrey Ferguson, is facing another trial after a mistrial was declared due to a hung jury in a case where he was accused of murdering his wife, Sheryl Ferguson. The deadlock occurred in a Los Angeles Superior Court following extensive deliberations that stretched over a week. Late Monday, it was revealed that one juror’s dissent led to an 11-1 jury deadlock, impeding a unanimous verdict. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer expressed his intentions to retry the case, emphasizing the strong push towards a conviction, evidenced by … Read more