June 6, 2024
A Michigan federal judge on Thursday gave initial approval for a $25 million settlement between a class of Flint adults and businesses and a water engineering company accused of prolonging the town’s water crisis, calling the deal fair and an opportunity to avoid years of “exhausting” litigation.
U.S. District Judge Judith E. Levy said Veolia North America’s settlement with a Flint class of about 45,000 Flint, Michigan, property owners, businesses and adult residents was adequate and in the public’s interest to bring some closure to residents who have been involved in the litigation for nearly a decade. The judge also certified the settlement class.
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Ted Leopold of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, representing the class, also said the agreement helps residents see relief faster than continuing litigation, which could potentially not reach a resolution until “years down the road.” He said the class felt it was important to bring “closure” to the case.
“We felt this was a very strong resolution of the case based on totality of circumstances we’d be up against,” Leopold told Judge Levy Thursday.