APNewsBreak: Amtrak settlements silencing crash victims

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Amtrak has started settling lawsuits with victims of last year's deadly derailment in Philadelphia. But lawyers involved in the process say a strict confidentiality provision prevents them and their clients from talking about how they're doing or how much money they've received. Court records show the railroad reached the first settlements last week. It quietly resolved cases brought by two women who suffered head and other injuries in the May 2015 wreck. Dozens of other lawsuits are still pending. Amtrak has taken responsibility for the crash, which killed eight people and left more than 200 injured. It won't oppose claims for compensatory damages like medical expenses, but the pool for potential payouts is capped under federal law at $295 million. Amtrak's lawyer didn't respond to a message.