$65 million settlement reached in Hoosick Falls class action lawsuit

HOOSICK FALLS, NY (NEWS10) – Three of the four defendants in the Hoosick Falls PFOA contamination case have agreed to a $ 65.25 million settlement.

“The community is ready to put this behind us,” said Hoosick Falls Mayor Rob Allen.

Allen said the PFOA class action settlement was a sign of the future.

“It doesn’t erase everything that’s been done. It doesn’t erase the lives affected, the lives lost, but it’s a really important first step, “said Allen.

3M, Saint-Gobain and Honeywell have reached a settlement pending approval from a federal judge. Dupont doesn’t have it.

In a statement, Honeywell said in part, “The Hoosick Falls remediation is a top priority for Honeywell … we continue to work cooperatively and transparently … to conduct environmental surveys, prepare interim corrective actions, and implement cleanup plans.”

“The health, safety and wellbeing of both our employees and the communities in which we operate are important to us and we take this responsibility very seriously,” said Lia LoBello, director of business communications at Saint-Gobain.

The settlement is divided into three classes: landowners, private well owners and for medical surveillance. The rest of the money goes towards legal fees.

“This is a property loss and medical surveillance billing of classes. It is not an injury or illness settlement, ”said Co-Lead Counsel Stephen Schwarz.

Schwarz said once the settlement is approved, his company can meet with local residents to discuss their next steps.

“People who take part in this settlement, who are not sick now, who may get sick later, retain their right to sue in later years,” said Schwarz.

The village is weeks away from figuring out where to get clean water from. Mayor Allen hopes this announcement is a start to close a difficult chapter for residents.

“Once that is sorted out, we can basically show again how great it is to have a fellowship here,” said Allen.

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