MEDIA ALERT: Court-Appointed Class Counsel Leading East Palestine Norfolk Southern Train Derailment Settlement Announces Court Order Terminating Kroll as Administrator

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio, June 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Simmons Hanly Conroy, one of the nation's leading mass tort litigation firms dedicated to holding corporations responsible for wrongdoing, today announced alongside Grant & Eisenhofer and Burg Simpson that the United States District Court in the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, has suspended and terminated the appointment of Kroll Settlement Administration, LLC as the settlement administrator for those impacted by the East Palestine Norfolk Southern train derailment. The court order comes following numerous complaints and an investigation that uncovered calculation errors. Epiq has been named as the replacement settlement administrator, and Class Counsel plans to move swiftly to accommodate residents while continuing to audit Kroll.  

"We are devastated that our hard work to achieve a $600M settlement remains unfulfilled. We will continue to do everything we can for the community to get the Voluntary Exposure funds out to the hands of the citizens in the correct amounts," said Jayne Conroy, Beth Graham and Seth Katz in a joint statement.  "In addition to receiving numerous complaints about the timing of payments, we were recently alerted to the fact that there were errors in Kroll's calculations.  As a result, we believe we have no choice but to audit these calculations. The Court saw fit to replace Kroll as Administrator."

The settlement agreement resolves claims within a 20-mile radius from the derailment and, for those residents who chose to participate, personal injury claims within a 10-mile radius from the derailment. Individuals and businesses will be able to use compensation from the settlement in any manner they see fit to address potential adverse impacts from the derailment. Individual awards vary based on several criteria, including proximity to the event and specific losses, among other things. In addition, individuals within 10 miles of the derailment may, at their discretion, choose to receive additional compensation for any past, current, or future personal injury from the derailment. 

Since its inception, Simmons Hanly Conroy has successfully helped thousands of clients across the country harmed by corporate wrongdoing.

About Simmons Hanly Conroy LLP

Simmons Hanly Conroy, with over 175 employees and 100 attorneys practicing nationwide, is one of the country's largest plaintiff law firms dedicated to holding corporations responsible for wrongdoing. Primary areas of litigation include mesothelioma and asbestos, pharmaceutical and medical device injuries, consumer protection class actions, environmental injuries and protection, and complex personal injury. The firm's attorneys have been appointed to leadership in numerous national multidistrict litigations, including the Norfolk Southern East Palestine train derailment, prescription opioids, Vioxx, Yaz, Toyota unintended acceleration, BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, DePuy Pinnacle, Uber Rideshare sexual assault, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, and the Volkswagen emission scandal. For over 25 years, the firm has successfully secured verdicts and settlements for thousands of clients nationwide and is a major supporter of asbestos-related cancer research. Offices are located in Alton, Illinois; Boston; Los Angeles; Miami; New York City; San Francisco; and St. Louis. Read more at www.simmonsfirm.com.

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SOURCE Simmons Hanly Conroy