Are you eligible for a chunk of this $4.2 million Granite City coke plant settlement?
If you owned property in a certain part of Granite City from 2009-2017, you may be able to claim some money from a $4.2 million lawsuit against two energy and coke-making plants.
The lawsuit was filed by those who say they suffered damages due to alleged particulate matter and odorous gases from U.S. Steel’s steel mill, SunCoke Energy, Inc., and Gateway Energy and Coke Company, according to the suit. The two companies denied all allegations against them, but agreed the settlement is the best option because of uncertainty, risk and delays in litigation.
The total proposed settlement is $4.2 million, before the attorney’s fee is taken out, according to the lawsuit. The amount of money each member of the settlement class will receive depends on how long they lived near the plants and how far away they lived, among other things. SunCoke is paying an average of $350-$1,250 per household, but total awards range from $33-$2,500.
To check if you’re a part of the settlement class, enter your address online at a website dedicated to information on the lawsuit. The settlement area is made up of a small geographic area in Granite City. If you lived there from Nov. 10, 2009 through Aug. 28, 2017, you are eligible to submit your information.
If you live or lived in that area, and wish to receive money from a settlement, complete and return the claim form and documentation to claims@keltnerclassaction.com or submit them online. Claims must be submitted by Nov. 27, 2017.
A fairness hearing for the settlement is Feb. 16, 2018 in Madison County. Here, the judge will decide if the proposed settlement is fair, reasonable and adequate, and will decide whether to approve it.
You can read the full settlement agreement online. A full list of impacted addresses begins on page 38 of the agreement.
Kara Berg: 618-239-2626, @karaberg95
This story was originally published October 1, 2017 at 10:42 AM with the headline "Are you eligible for a chunk of this $4.2 million Granite City coke plant settlement?."