A GEORGIA FAMILY COUPLE SUE JUSTICE AND DEMAND A SAFETY OVERHAUL AFTER THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY ‘TRIP OF A LIFETIME’ ON THE SLIDED AMTRAK EMPIRE BUILDER TRAIN NEAR JOPLIN, MONTANA ENDED IN DEATH

Jason Varnadoethe couple’s son and manager of their estates, said: “Mum and Dad had a passionate belief in doing good for others – Dad was known for always asking people, ‘How can I help?’. Mom and Dad loved each other and our families very much, and loved making a difference around the world through their service in the Church St. Simons Island community and in their distinguished careers; Dad in the real estate business and mom as a teacher. We know they want their memory to serve a positive purpose and we hope that lessons will be learned from this tragedy and that America’s rails will become safer so that other families will be spared our unimaginable pain and suffering.”

Robert J Mongeluzziwho heads SMB’s catastrophic rail accident practice, said after the filing (Varnadoe v. Amtrak and BNSF Case No.: 1:22-cv-00925)“Still heartbroken by the loss of incredible parents, loving grandparents, deeply religious, compassionate and charitable pillars of their close-knit relationship St. Simons Island Community, the Varnadoe family has asked us to do everything in our power to hold those responsible for the deaths of Don and Margie fully accountable and to continue to work vigorously to make life-saving improvements throughout the Amtrak system. They fear that without meaningful reform — no lip service — and strict oversight, it is inevitable that tickets to ride Amtrak will result in increasing numbers of senseless passenger injuries and deaths.

Jeffrey P Goodmanfrom Philadelphia-based SMB, said the filing sharpened the focus on a litany of operational shortcomings, including a failure to identify kinks as a significant factor in the derailment. “Amtrak and BNSF should have ensured that proper safety and maintenance procedures were in place to prevent track buckling and to identify any potential track problems that could lead to a tragedy. This location has a history of over 40 years of gaffes, tragically Amtrak and BNSF have failed to learn from the lessons of the past and the Varnadoes are determined to ensure they don’t make that mistake in the future.”

Joining Mr. Mongeluzzi and Mr. Goodman on the plaintiffs’ legal team are SMB attorneys Samuel B Dordickand litigators Mark A DiCello and Adam J Levitt from Chicago-based DiCello Levitt Gutzler LLC.

SMB is one of America’s leading law firms representing victims of catastrophic injuries and deaths. Trial attorneys Mongeluzzi and Goodman were part of the plaintiffs’ lead team in the Amtrak 188 derailment in Philadelphiaand Other Fatal Accidents of Amtrak in Pennsylvania, South Carolinaand the fatal New Jersey Transit (NJT) accident in 2016 Hoboken, New Jersey. They have consistently advocated the mandatory use of advanced railway safety technology, including Positive Train Control (PTC), which provides automatic braking and shunting systems.

NOTE: The attorney respects the privacy of the Varnadoe family and respectfully requests that all interview requests be directed to the Legal Department (see contact information below).

Contacts:
Robert J Mongeluzzi / [email protected] / 215-850-6571
Jeffrey P Goodman / [email protected] / 215-840-6450
Stephen Rosenfeld / [email protected] / 215-514-4101

SOURCE Saltz Mongeluzzi & Bendesky PC