(The Associated Press circulated the following article on December 16.)
LOS ANGELES — Another dozen lawsuits were filed Thursday against Metrolink over the January commuter train derailment that killed 11 people and injured more than 180 after a man apparently abandoned his vehicle on railroad tracks in an aborted suicide attempt.
The lawsuits were filed on behalf of nine passengers injured in the Jan. 26 crash and on behalf of the survivors of three passengers who were killed. The lawsuits claim the commuter rail agency was negligent for using the push-pull configuration, where cab cars are sometimes pushed by a rear engine, said plaintiffs’ attorney J. Clark Aristei.
Juan Manuel Alvarez, 26, who allegedly parked his Jeep Cherokee on the tracks, has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and arson. Prosecutors decided in August that they would seek the death penalty against him.
The civil lawsuits do not focus on Alvarez. They claim that Metrolink leaves its passengers and crews vulnerable in the front cab cars when they are being pushed from the rear.
“Every year Metrolink can count on a couple derailments at grade-crossings,” Aristei said. “Do we do nothing or do we give passengers the benefit of improved safety and stop the pushing of trains?”
Metrolink does not comment on pending legislation, said agency spokeswoman Denise Tyrell.
She did, however, call Aristei’s comments an exaggeration.
At least 15 other lawsuits have been filed in connection with the crash and they will be consolidated, Aristei said.