Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost sued Norfolk Southern Corp., seeking to hold the company financially responsible for the train derailment in East Palestine.
The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Ohio on Tuesday, seeks injunctive relief, civil penalties, costs, damages and court costs. The lawsuit is also asking the court to order the company to pay for damages to natural resources and property and to make payments for the economic harm done to the state and its residents.
“The derailment in East Palestine, Ohio was both foreseeable and preventable,” the lawsuit said. “Norfolk Southern’s own record demonstrates that it knew—and should have taken appropriate steps to prevent—the significant harm that the derailment would cause the state.”
Norfolk Southern didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Chief Executive Alan Shaw has previously apologized for the derailment, which spilled toxic chemicals in the small town near the Pennsylvania border. He has said Norfolk Southern will spend whatever it takes to clean up the town and reimburse residents.