EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (NewsNation) — An attorney representing some residents of East Palestine, Ohio, explains why he is advising his clients to decline Norfolk Southern’s payments of $1,000 in the aftermath of the Feb. 3 train derailment.
Attorney Mike O’Shea told NewsNation’s “Rush Hour” that those $1,000 checks are essentially “inconvenience” payments.
“Norfolk Southern were having these good folks sign W-9 forms, so that would be reported as functional income,” which would make it taxable, according to O’Shea.
O’Shea said the $1,000 payments mandate that anyone who accepts them must hand over sensitive information such as date of birth and Social Security numbers.
Watch the full interview with attorney Mike O’Shea in the video above.