$10 million verdict for man injured in Amtrak derailment

TACOMA — A jury has awarded more than $10 million to a man who was seriously hurt when an Amtrak train derailed between Tacoma and Olympia in 2017.

Donnell Linton, 47 of Renton, is one of many passengers of Amtrak Cascades 501 who sued Amtrak after the train left the tracks and some of its cars crashed onto the freeway below. Three died and dozens were injured.

Jurors issued the verdict in Linton’s favor Tuesday in in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, The News Tribune reported.

An Amtrak spokesperson declined to comment about the decision.

Linton and his son were traveling to Oregon to visit Linton’s newborn grandchild when the train derailed Dec. 18, 2017, one of his attorneys, David Beninger, said.

Linton suffered fractures to his face, shoulder and ribs. He is still getting treatment, the attorney said. His son, now 14, also suffered facial fractures.

“He and his son got ejected from the train and landed on the pavement below,” Beninger said.

Linton’s verdict is not the first regarding the derailment.

A jury awarded nearly $17 million to several plaintiffs in one case last year. Soon after another woman’s lawsuit ended with a $4.5 million verdict.

Other cases are pending. Some have settled, Beninger said.

There were 77 passengers and six crew members on board.