DIEHL v. CSX TRANSPORTATION
Filing
75
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER granting 56 Motion for Summary Judgment; denying as moot 64 Motion to Certify Class, and as more fully stated in said Memorandum Opinion and Order. Signed by Judge Kim R. Gibson on 12/9/2019. (dlg)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
DENORA DIEHL, ROBERT COOK,
JENNIFER QUEEN, and LORELEI
GORDON, on behalf of themselves and all
others similarly situated,
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Case No. 3:18-cv-122
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Plaintiffs,
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JUDGE KIM R. GIBSON
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CSX TRANSPORTATION, INC.,
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Defendant.
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MEMORANDUM OPINION
I.
Introduction
This case arises out of a train derailment that occurred near Hyndman, Pennsylvania in
August of 2017.
Plaintiffs filed a Class Action Complaint alleging that Defendant CSX
Transportation, Inc. negligently operated a train, causing it to derail. Plaintiffs aver that they and
other proposed class members were subsequently forced to evacuate their homes and subjected
to inconvenience as Defendant repaired the derailment site.
Pending before the Court are Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 56)
and Plaintiffs' Motion for Class Certification (ECF No. 64). The Motions are fully briefed (ECF
Nos. 58, 60, 63, 65, 67, 69) and ripe for disposition. For the reasons that follow, the Court
GRANTS Defendant's Motion and DENIES Plaintiffs' Motion as moot.
II.
Jurisdiction and Venue
This Court has subject-matter jurisdiction because at least one plaintiff is diverse from at
least one defendant and the amount in controversy exceeds $5,000,000. 28 U.S.C. § 1332(d)(2).
Venue is proper in the Western District of Pennsylvania because Defendant removed this
action from Bedford County, which is embraced by this district. 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a).
III.
Factual Background
The following facts are undisputed unless otherwise noted. 1
A. The Derailment and Evacuation
On the morning of August 2, 2017, a freight train operated by Defendant derailed in
Hyndman, Pennsylvania. (ECF No. 65 at 2.) This train was carrying mixed freight, including
propane, molten sulfur, asphalt, and phosphoric acid residue. (Id.) The derailment resulted in a
fire that burned for two days and led to a mandatory evacuation of approximately 1,000 people
from nearby homes for varying lengths of time. (Id.) Emergency management officials set up a
mandatory evacuation zone within a one-mile radius of the derailment and emergency
responders went door to door to ensure the evacuation of all residents. (Id. at 4.)
Plaintiff Jennifer Queen evacuated her home with only her cell phone. (Id.) Her fiance,
Plaintiff Robert Cook, was working at a local hospital at the time of the derailment. (Id.) Mr.
Cook and Ms. Queen evacuated their house from August 2 to 5, 2017. (Id. at 5.) They had two
dogs and a cat that were left crated during the evacuation and Mr. Cook and Ms. Queen had to
clean and sanitize the crates upon returning home. (Id.) Mr. Cook and Ms. Queen additionally
had food items that expired and had to be thrown away and left clothes in the washer from before
the evacuation that developed mold and a foul odor. (Id.) Mr. Cook and Ms. Queen were not
The Court derives these facts from a combination of Defendant's Concise Statement of Undisputed Facts
in Support of Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 57), Plaintiffs' Response to Defendant's
Concise Statement of Undisputed (ECF No. 60-1), Memorandum in Support of Plaintiffs' Motion for Class
Certification (ECF No. 65), and Defendant's Memorandum in Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for Class
Certification (ECF No. 67).
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physically injured by the derailment but allegedly suffer from anxiety as a result. (ECF No. 57 'I[
6; ECF No. 60-11[ 5.)
Plaintiff Lorelei Gordon and members of her household evacuated their home without
time to pack anything. (ECF No. 65 at 5-6.) They evacuated their house from August 2 to 5, 2017.
(Id. at 6.) Ms. Gordon kept rabbits outside her house and three of them had died by the time she
returned home. (Id.) She also had a dog that was left in her house unattended and she had to
clean and sanitize her house upon her return. (Id.) Ms. Gordon additionally had food items that
expired and had to be thrown away and left clothes in the washer from before the evacuation that
developed mold. (Id.) Ms. Gordon was not physically injured by the derailment but allegedly
suffers from anxiety as a result. (ECF No. 57 'Il 6; ECF No. 60-1 'Il 5.)
Plaintiff Denora Diehl and three other people living in her house evacuated her home
shortly after the derailment without belongings. (ECF No. 65 at 7.) They evacuated the house
from August 2 to 20, 2017.
(Id.)
Ms. Diehl left two dogs in her house unattended for
approximately 48 hours and then had to board one of them for approximately two weeks. (Id.)
When Ms. Diehl returned home, the food in her refrigerator had expired and had to be thrown
away. (Id.) Ms. Diehl was not physically injured by the derailment but allegedly suffers from
anxiety as a result. (ECF No. 57 'Il 6; ECF No. 60-1 'Il 5.)
B. Defendant's Response to the Derailment
Following the derailment, Defendant set up community outreach centers to assist and
compensate individuals who were inconvenienced, required medical treatment, or suffered
financial setbacks as a result of the derailment. (ECF No. 67 at 3.) Each household within the
evacuation zone was entitled to submit a claim to receive an inconvenience payment. (Id.)
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Defendant has reimbursed individuals for expenses such as costs of food, incidentals, hotel
accommodations, lost wages, and medical expenses. (Id.) Defendant additionally provided food,
bottled water, transportation, and cleaning services to those affected by the derailment and
Defendant's outreach program is still open to the Hyndman community for reimbursement. (Id.
at 3-4.)
IV.
Procedural Background
On May 22, 2018, Ms. Diehl filed a Class Action Complaint in the Court of Common Pleas
of Bedford County, Pennsylvania, which Defendant removed to this Court on June 8, 2018. (ECF
No. 1.) Plaintiffs filed an Amended Class Action Complaint on November 28, 2018, which added
three additional class representatives. (ECF No. 46.) Plaintiffs allege the following as injuries:
unattended pets; expired food; moldy laundry; missed work; fumes, smoke, bright lights, and
odor; property damages; out-of-pocket expenses; aggravation, inconvenience, fear, anxiety, and
anguish; and loss of use and enjoyment of property. (ECF No 57
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