geysergazer posted:smd4 posted:geysergazer posted:Isn't this like trying to get blood from a turnip? DOJ is seeking $25 million and I bet that would bankrupt the railroad. If that happens I'm thinking you can roll up the sidewalks of Silverton and probably Durango as well. Those are tourist towns and a lot of their trade comes from people there for the train. I don't get the Administration's goal here because the railroad has taken the necessary steps to remedy the situation going forward (by converting to oil-firing) and this suit, if successful, will destroy the railroad and probably the local economy as well.
Lew
First of all, DOJ isn't seeking a specified monetary amount at this point.
Second, the railroad's liability carrier will be on the hook for any damages won (unless they are self-insured to a certain amount). It's really way, way too early to know what's going to happen here.
The "goal" appears to be trying to recoup some of your hard-spent tax dollars...
I was going by this:
"The cause was released in a federal lawsuit from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado that seeks compensation for firefighting and rehabilitation efforts, which the U.S. Attorney’s Office says cost the federal government approximately $25 million so far."
One wonders if the railroad has insurance to cover off-[railroad]-property fire? Liability insurance to cover on-property injury, of course, as well as on-property fire damage but fire liability extending beyond the railroad's property? Is that kind of insurance even sold I wonder?
Lot's of my tax dollars are spent every year fighting wildland fires to keep from burning neighborhoods that never should have been built because proximity to fire-prone wildlands
and I'm perfectly happy spending a few more to leave alone a venerable institution of living history. It would be different if we taxpayers had to expect a never-ending issue going forward but the railroad has, after all, addressed the problem.
Lew
The reason you buy Liability Insurance is to protect yourself in case you damage someone's property or cause bodily injury. To protect your own property you purchase casualty insurance.
