Metrolink Settles with Chatsworth Train Accident Victims for $200 Million

Personal Injury Law (Local News) August, 25, 2010

Los Angeles – Metrolink System and Connex Railroad have both agreed to pay the maximum liability of $200 million for the 2008 Chatsworth train accident that killed 25 people and injured more than 100 people.

Keith Millhouse, board chairman of the Southern Regional Rail Authority, made the announcement as the commitment to pay the maximum liability for train accidents under federal law was being filed in a Los Angeles federal court.

The two companies said the distribution of the payment will be left to the courts once the proposal gets approved.

The attorneys of the victims have not yet released a comment but are expected to challenge the proposal as they claim that the damages incurred in the train collision is more than $200 million.

The Chatsworth collision - which occurred on September 12, 2008, between a Metrolink train and a freight train - was believed to be caused by the commuter train’s engineer who failed to stop at a red light as he was texting while on the job.

The train engineer, who also died in the train accident, was provided by Connex Railroad.