FLINT, Mich. (WXYZ) — The city of Flint and defendants in the Flint Water Crisis lawsuit have decided to increase the settlement for financial relief to $641.2 million. The settlement must now go through review as part of a motion for preliminary approval.
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If approval is granted by Judge Judith Levy of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, the process for payout to Flint residents will begin. The judge must review if the settlement meets certain legal standards.
A date for the hearing has not yet been set.
“We are pleased that we are able to take another step towards providing the Flint community and residents a measure of justice. While this can never undo the damage that has been done, it is essential that those who are responsible for the reckless behavior that led to this crisis are held accountable. We will continue to seek justice against the remaining defendants and continue our advocacy on behalf of Flint residents,” said Ted Leopold, court-appointed co-lead counsel and Partner at Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll.
The settlement initially stood at $600 million. Three more defendants joined the settlement, which raised the total payout.
The detailed terms of the settlement agreement filed in court today are contained in a 71-page agreement, with hundreds of additional pages of exhibits, and can be viewed here.
