March 9th 2024.
Many Flint, Michigan residents are still waiting to receive their share of the $626.25 million legal settlement that they are entitled to after suffering through nearly a decade of lead-poisoned drinking water in their city. The city officials in charge of handling the distribution of these claims had originally promised that the money would be given out by March of last year. However, as the deadline passed without any updates on when the settlement would be paid, the residents were then informed that they could expect to receive their share by Christmas time. Unfortunately, as of February 28th of this year, attorney Deborah Greenspan has stated that it will likely take several more months before the initial review of the claims is completed.
According to a report by USA Today, the delay in payments for Flint residents is due to complications with the payout structure outlined in the settlement case. Court records have revealed that this structure has made it extremely difficult for residents to receive their rightful compensation. Many have expressed frustration over the fact that lawyers will receive their payment before the victims of the state, and that there is a considerable amount of paperwork required for each individual to receive their share.
Attorney Ted Leopold, who is serving as the co-lead class counsel in the Flint case, has stated that they would have preferred a simpler and more efficient process that would have allowed claims to be processed and paid out as they were completed. This would have ensured that all those affected by the crisis were compensated as quickly as possible. However, the state insisted on a complex grid system in which the amount of each claim was dependent on every other claim, and high levels of documentation were required for each claim to be considered valid.
Under the terms of the settlement, no Flint resident will receive their payment until all 90,000 claims on behalf of approximately 46,000 residents have been fully resolved, including any appeals. This process has been further complicated by the fact that many claimants have either moved out of state or passed away, causing significant delays that are not typical for class action lawsuits.
As the residents of Flint continue to deal with the aftermath of the water crisis and its financial repercussions, the further delay in their entitled settlement only adds to their struggles. It is a difficult and frustrating situation for all those involved, and the recent passing of outspoken Flint City Councilman, Eric Mays, at the age of 65 only serves as a reminder of the ongoing impact of this crisis on the community.
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