An attorney for injured passengers of last year’s Metro-North derailment claims the railroad pulled funding for the victims’ medical care after promising to cover the costs.
Lawyer Michael Lamonsoff blasted Metro-North for the move that has left Dr. Denise Williams, a former military colonel and dentist, in a financial fix because she requires around-the-clock care for a fractured spine, ribs and shoulder she sustained in the crash, he said in a statement released Tuesday.
Metro-North “first agreed to pay medical bills” Lamonsoff says, but then “outrageously broke that promise and has ceased paying any medical bills for those injured by their negligence.”
Lamonosff would not answer questions about the situation, including whether it applied to all 63 riders injured in the Dec. 1, 2013 crash that left 4 people dead.
He plans to pursue money damages for their care in a pending Bronx civil suit.
“Metro-North Railroad has offered no reasonable basis for the decision to cease paying victims’ medical bills,” Lamonosoff said in the statement previewing a press conference planned for Wednesday.
A Metro-North spokeswoman said the railroad normally pays for customer injuries through settlements, but decided to pay all derailment-related medical bills through March 14. It is now looking to resolve legal claims.
“Metro-North is committed to resolving these cases as fairly and expeditiously as possible,” said spokeswoman Marjorie Anders.