Almost four years following an ill-fated demolition in Chicago's Little Village that blanketed the area in dust, a federal court has sanctioned a $12.25 million settlement for residents affected by the aftermath of the botched job. The class-action suit was triggered by complaints from locals just days after the implosion of the Crawford Power Generating Station on April 11, 2020. The settlement, reported by the Chicago Tribune, aims to compensate those whose health and properties were compromised in the incident.
The settlement funds are to be distributed with up to $1 million earmarked for property or business owners who suffered damage from the demolition's dust and debris. According to the same report, roughly $7 million will go to individuals present in the vicinity during the demolition, who might see personal injury claims netting between $250 and $500 each. Plaintiffs charged the Northbrook-based Hilco Redevelopment Partners with negligent action, failing to adhere to safety norms and regulations for demolition practices.
Residents expressed concerns about respiratory issues following the event, which was particularly worrying given the concurrent onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. To mitigate risks, city personnel doled out masks in the neighborhood the day following the implosion. Despite denying any liability, Hilco agreed to the settlement to avoid further legal wrangling. The claims submission deadline is March 26, with options for filing online at littlevillagesmokestack.com or by U.S. mail after obtaining a form from the settlement's claims administrator.
The controversy reignited discussions about environmental justice, with allegations of environmental racism considering the predominantly Latino makeup of the Little Village. "The IG report states real clearly that city bureaucracy failed the residents of Little Village, failed my neighbors, and failed my community," Alderman Mike Rodriguez, representing the 22nd Ward where the demolition occurred, told WLS. Genaro Contreras, a local who lives two blocks from the demolition site, reported frequent hospital visits due to breathing and sleeping difficulties since the incident.
As part of the settlement's division, the remaining $4.25 million will go toward attorney fees and costs, including incentive awards for three original plaintiffs, as per the Chicago Tribune. A final approval hearing is scheduled for April at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse.
