What Was the Largest Virginia (VA) Railroad Injury Verdict Ever? ($60 Million, Including Interest)

In October 2000, a Manassas, Virginia (VA) state court jury returned a $46 million verdict. With interest owed, the verdict totaled $60 million. This was, and still is, the largest railroad or brain injury verdict in Virginia's history, to date.

The massive verdict was against Norfolk Southern (NS) Railway Co, and in favor or Donald French, a gas station manager. The NS railroad train derailed at a switch set in the wrong direction, and went careening into the gas station building, toppling its walls onto French who was pinned in the rubble and suffered major orthopedic injuries and a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Shapiro Lewis & Appleton, well known Virginia Beach, VA railroad/FELA injury attorneys teamed with Steve Smith, a Hampton, VA based trial attorney, to convince the Northern VA jury of the magnitude of the injuries.

Our Virginia based railroad/FELA lawyers investigated the railroad issues and determined that a prior NS crew had left the railroad switch in the wrong position, leaving the train vulnerable to the derailment and that the careless crew's acts constituted negligence under railroad industry standards.

NS attacked several legal issues on the case evidence, and ultimately appealed the verdict to the Virginia Supreme Court at which time the case was settled, but NS required that the amount of settlement remain confidential, which we often resist. However, since the accident facts remain public, our client authorized that solely the amount of the settlement remained confidential.

If you or someone you know was seriously hurt to the careless actions of a railroad company, speak to an attorney to discuss your legal options. We aren't allowed to say we're the best Virginia injury law firm to handle your case, but we can point to our results as proof that we know how to take on a big corporation in the court room.

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About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have handled hundreds of Federal Employers' Liability Act claims for railroad workers hurt or made ill while doing their rail jobs. We also have represented many people injured in train accidents. Please take a few moments to review our railroad injury case results. Our primary offices are in Virginia Beach and Hampton, VA, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia if you've been seriously hurt by someone else's carelessness.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been included among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008, and have been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2010. Fewer than 5 percent of lawyers are chosen for this professional honor.

In addition, we were the first injury law firm in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms. Our firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill. Our attorneys have even been included in the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009.

We would like to send you one of our free reports about railroad injury and FELA cases, including Dos & Don'ts When Injured at a Railroad: Your FELA Rights and What Railroad Claim Agents Agents Won't Tell You (But You Must Know).

While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer a free initial confidential injury case consultations, so call us toll free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail so we can return your call.