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N.Y.P.D. Cop Files $10 Million Claim For Metro North Derailment Injuries (Ronemus & Vilensky)

Industry: Legal Services

22-year N.Y.P.D. veteran's claim, filed by Ronemus & Vilensky LLP, is the second pending lawsuit arising from Sunday's Metro North derailment near Spuyten Duyvil, N.Y.

New York, NY (PRUnderground) December 5th, 2013

After sustaining serious injuries that may prevent him from returning to active duty, veteran N.Y.P.D. cop Eddie Russell, 48, has filed a $10 million claim for injuries, pain and suffering he sustained from Sunday’s Metro North crash near the Spuyten Duyvil Metro North station in N.Y.    

Russell, a 22-year N.Y.P.D. veteran who was returning to New York City from his home in New Windsor for work, had boarded a 5:54 a.m. southbound Metro North train heading from Poughkeepsie, N.Y. to Grand Central Station. Just before the train reached the Spuyten Duyvil Metro North station less than two hours later, the train sped through a sharp track curve and derailed. The accident caused four fatalities, and injured over 60 passengers—including Russell.

Russell’s claim—which was written and filed by attorney Robert Vilensky from Ronemus and Vilensky LLP—states that Russell suffered various injuries and permanent disabilities from the Metro North derailment that could prevent him from continuing his work with the N.Y.P.D. and impact his overall quality of life. 

Russell is holding the MTA, Metro North Railroad, New York City Transit Authority, City of New York and State of New York liable for their negligence and carelessness in failing to take necessary precautions to ensure the safety of the train’s passengers and crew. He also, in turn, states that these negligent and careless acts caused his present injuries, permanent disabilities and suffering. His claim also alleges that the MTA failed to make necessary track improvements or post adequate warnings after a prior freight car derailment incident occurred in July in the same area as Sunday’s incident.  

Although recently-suspended train engineer William Rockefeller was not named in the suit, Russell is suing the MTA for allowing Rockefeller to operate the train on inadequate sleep, and for failing to implement safety procedures that could have been used to protect passengers in case the engineer was asleep. Rockefeller had not previously operated an early-morning train prior to Sunday’s derailment incident.  

Ronemus and Vilensky LLP is among the law firms leading the way in helping the victims of Sunday’s Metro North derailment. Russell’s suit is the second of four pending lawsuits filed in response to Sunday’s Metro North accident near Spuyten Duyvil, N.Y.

Sunday’s Metro North derailment is the latest controversy arising from the Metro North train system this year. In addition to the freight car derailment in July, Metro North’s New Haven line was shut down in September as a result of a power outage, putting the line out of service for 12 days. In May, one Metro North passenger train struck and killed a rail foreman in West Haven, Conn., while two other trains collided in Bridgeport, Conn., injuring over 70 people.

About Ronemus & Vilensky LLP

Hard work, thorough preparation, excellent trial skills, and years of experience, paired with cases that merit substantial compensation is the winning combination that enables Ronemus & Vilensky to procure millions of dollars for our clients.

The attorneys of Ronemus & Vilensky specialize in representing clients with the following injuries: Erb’s palsy, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, lead poisoning, hospital or physician malpractice, racial or sexual discrimination, construction accidents, motor vehicle accidents and other types of serious accidents, false arrests, and police assault or abuse.

If you have a case that you would like to discuss, please feel free to contact the attorneys at Ronemus & Vilensky. All information is kept strictly confidential and there is NO CHARGE for a consultation. In fact, every case taken is on a contingency basis, which means you don’t pay any attorney’s fees unless Ronemus & Vilensky wins the case for you.

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