U.S. Code » Title 49 » Subtitle SUBTITLE V— RAIL PROGRAMS › Part PART E— MISCELLANEOUS › Chapter CHAPTER 281— LAW ENFORCEMENT

49 U.S.C. § 28103

Limitations on rail passenger transportation liability

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(a)Limitations.—(1) Notwithstanding any other statutory or common law or public policy, or the nature of the conduct giving rise to damages or liability, in a claim for personal injury to a passenger, death of a passenger, or damage to property of a passenger arising from or in connection with the provision of rail passenger transportation, or from or in connection with any rail passenger transportation operations over or rail passenger transportation use of right-of-way or facilities owned, leased, or maintained by any high-speed railroad authority or operator, any commuter authority or operator, any rail carrier, or any State, punitive damages, to the extent permitted by applicable State law, may be awarded in connection with any such claim only if the plaintiff establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the harm that is the subject of the action was the result of conduct carried out by the defendant with a conscious, flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of others. If, in any case wherein death was caused, the law of the place where the act or omission complained of occurred provides, or has been construed to provide, for damages only punitive in nature, this paragraph shall not apply.(2) The aggregate allowable awards to all rail passengers, against all defendants, for all claims, including claims for punitive damages, arising from a single accident or incident, shall not exceed $200,000,000.(b)Contractual Obligations.—A provider of rail passenger transportation may enter into contracts that allocate financial responsibility for claims.(c)Mandatory Coverage.—Amtrak shall maintain a total minimum liability coverage for claims through insurance and self-insurance of at least $200,000,000 per accident or incident.(d)Effect on Other Laws.—This section shall not affect the damages that may be recovered under the Act of April 27, 1908 (45 U.S.C. 51 et seq.; popularly known as the “Federal Employers’ Liability Act”) or under any workers compensation Act.(e)Definition.—For purposes of this section—(1) the term “claim” means a claim made—(A) against Amtrak, any high-speed railroad authority or operator, any commuter authority or operator, any rail carrier, or any State; or(B) against an officer, employee, affiliate engaged in railroad operations, or agent, of Amtrak, any high-speed railroad authority or operator, any commuter authority or operator, any rail carrier, or any State;(2) the term “punitive damages” means damages awarded against any person or entity to punish or deter such person or entity, or others, from engaging in similar behavior in the future; and(3) the term “rail carrier” includes a person providing excursion, scenic, or museum train service, and an owner or operator of a privately owned rail passenger car.(Added Pub. L. 105–134, title I, § 161(a), Dec. 2, 1997, 111 Stat. 2577.)Editorial NotesReferences in Text

The Federal Employers’ Liability Act, referred to in subsec. (d), is act Apr. 22, 1908, ch. 149, 35 Stat. 65, which is classified generally to chapter 2 (§ 51 et seq.) of Title 45, Railroads. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 51 of Title 45 and Tables.

Statutory Notes and Related SubsidiariesAdjustment Based on Consumer Price Index

Pub. L. 114–94, div. A, title XI, § 11415(b), Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1689, provided that: “The liability cap under section 28103(a)(2) of title 49, United States Code, shall be adjusted on the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 4, 2015] to reflect the change in the Consumer Price Index-All Urban Consumers between such date and December 2, 1997, and the Secretary [of Transportation] shall provide appropriate public notice of such adjustment. The adjustment of the liability cap shall be effective 30 days after such notice. Every fifth year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall adjust such liability cap to reflect the change in the Consumer Price Index-All Urban Consumers since the last adjustment. The Secretary shall provide appropriate public notice of each such adjustment, and the adjustment shall become effective 30 days after such notice.”

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 15 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2004–2022 · leading case: O & G Indus., Inc. v. Nat'l R.R. Passenger Corp., 537 F.3d 153 (2d Cir. 2008).
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O & G Indus., Inc. v. Nat'l R.R. Passenger Corp., 537 F.3d 153 (2d Cir. 2008). · cites it 5× “The court upheld the validity of the indemnity provision, ruling that 49 U.S.C. § 28103 (b) (hereafter “ § 28103(b)”)— which allows rail passenger carriers to enter into liability-shifting agreements— preempted Connecticut General Statute § 52-572k(a) (frequently referred to…”
Sw. Bell Tel. Co. v. Garza, 164 S.W.3d 607 (Tex. 2004). · cites it 2× “§ 14503(e) (punitive damages for act of volunteer for non-profit agencies); 49 U.S.C. § 28103 (a)(1) (harm caused by rail carrier).”
Deweese v. Nat'l Rr Passenger Corp.(amtrak), 590 F.3d 239 (3d Cir. 2009). · cites it 6× “) In its own motion for summary judgment, Amtrak contended that any state-law sovereign immunity defense proffered by SEPTA is preempted by Amtrak’s enabling statute, 49 U.S.C. § 28103 , enacted as part of the Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act of 1997 (the “Reform Act”).”
CSX Transp., Inc. v. Massachusetts Bay Transp. Auth., 697 F. Supp. 2d 213 (D. Mass. 2010). · cites it 8× “at 1-17). In so doing, CSX contends, Congress has made clear its intent to preempt state laws that purport to nulli *230 fy or limit indemnification agreements authorized by federal law.”
Thomas E. Miller & Lynn Miller v. Illinois Cent. R.R. Co., 474 F.3d 951 (7th Cir. 2007). “49 U.S.C. § 28103 (a)(1) (restricting the award of punitive damages in suits against Amtrak); id.”
Haynes v. Nat'l R.R. Passenger Corp., 423 F. Supp. 2d 1073 (C.D. Cal. 2006). · cites it 2× “” 49 U.S.C. § 28103 (a)(1). The statute then explains that any punitive damages that may be awarded must follow state law rules regarding damages.”
In re Amtrak Train Derailment in Philadelphia, 268 F. Supp. 3d 739 (E.D. Pa. 2017). · cites it 2× “2570, codified at 49 U.S.C. § 28103 . At the time of the derailment, the prescribed limit was $200 million.”
O&G Indus., Inc. v. Nat'l R.R. Passenger Corp., No. 06-4719-cv (2d Cir. Aug. 8, 2008). · cites it 3× “In the first instance, the 39 district court (1) granted summary judgment to Amtrak on the ground 40 that the indemnity agreement between Amtrak and O&G was not invalid 41 under Connecticut General Statute § 52-572k(a), because the latter 42 is preempted by 49 U.S.C. § 28103…”
Grove, J., Aplt. v. Port Auth., No. 32 WAP 2018 (Pa. Oct. 31, 2019). “4 I note for illustrative purposes that when the Amtrak train derailment occurred in Philadelphia in 2015, killing eight individuals and injuring over two hundred passengers and crew, Congress acted swiftly to amend the statutory cap applicable to rail passenger transportation…”
Grove, J., Aplt. v. Port Auth., No. 31 WAP 2018 (Pa. Oct. 31, 2019). “4 I note for illustrative purposes that when the Amtrak train derailment occurred in Philadelphia in 2015, killing eight individuals and injuring over two hundred passengers and crew, Congress acted swiftly to amend the statutory cap applicable to rail passenger transportation…”
Kyle v. Amtrak, No. 1:20-cv-05526 (S.D.N.Y. May 10, 2022). “Specifically, plaintiff cites to 49 U.S.C. § 28103 , which states that punitive damages are available for actions against Amtrak where “the harm that is the subject of the action was carried out by the defendant with a conscious, flagrant indifference to the rights and safety of…”
Deweese v. Nat'l R.R. Passenger Corp., 645 F. Supp. 2d 344 (E.D. Pa. 2009). “Amtrak contends that a section of its enabling statute, specifically, 49 U.S.C. § 28103 (b), preempts SEPTA’s claim that the Pennsylvania sovereign immunity statute prevents SEPTA from being held liable for contractual indemnity to Amtrak to the extent provided for in the…”
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