Ohio Railway Corp., Westlake Chemical Corp., and Kinder Morgan Liquid Terminals

On August 28, 2005 there was a styrene chemical leak in Cincinnati's East End. Nearly 800 properties were evacuated after the leaking railroad car spewed styrene chemicals into the air for several days. A large group of residents filed a lawsuit and are seeking class action status against the three companies for negligence in their handling of the rail car and the chemical. The companies have already settled hundreds of individual cases with individual residents. Ohio Railway Corp., Westlake Chemical Corp., and Kinder Morgan Liquid Terminals have agreed to pay $2 million in compensation if the class and proposed settlement are approved. (Jan-10-06) [ENQUIRER]