Chicago residents WIN $12M class-action lawsuit after botched coal plant implosion blanketed thousands homes in thick, suffocating dust

A Chicago judge has given the OK on a $12.25 million class action settlement that will see thousands of residents paid for a botched implosion at a former coal plant.

Meant to be a controlled demolition, the malfunction took place at the former Crawford Power Plant just over four years ago, and sent a thick plume of smoke over the Little Village neighborhood of the city.  

It left the mostly Mexican-American nabe blanketed in dust, despite being planned by local officials. A subsequent inspector general's probe found fault with the company that commissioned the plant implosion. Identified in charging documents as Hilco Redevelopment, the firm on Tuesday agreed to the stark settlement.

Residents affected, meanwhile, recalled to the US Northern District Court of Illinois how the cloud of dust suffocated them within seconds, after the 400-foot smoke stack set to be imploded fell. 

Some said they still have difficulty breathing, as the settlement means Hilco is now safe from any more suits. The firm has yet to comment on the development, after being subcontracted by the city for the ill-fated operation.

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Meant to be a demolition, the malfunction took place at the former Crawford Power Plant on April 11, 2020, and sent a thick plume of smoke over the Little Village neighborhood of the city

The old coal plant chimney seconds before the disaster - which a local watchdog said local officials could have prevented. The company that commissioned the implosion, meanwhile, was subcontracted by the city, and agreed to fork over the sum to avoid more litigation

'Our clients held the corporations responsible,' said Scott Rauscher, a lawyer who represented the residents during proceedings in district court, where residents also claimed they were given short notice about the demolition on April 11, 2020

'It's a great result.'

Juan Rangel - who is eligible for a cash payment - recalled to Fox 23 how he and others in the radius heard a large boom before being covered in soot.

'The neighborhood did not know that the implosion was going to take place,' he told the station immediately after the ruling. 

'I came back that morning and found a flyer that was rolled up and just stuck in people's fences... basically letting people know there was going to be this implosion. 

'But this was a flyer that was put there either in the late afternoon or the night before,' he disclaimed. 'So, nobody's gonna pick these up.

'I could only imagine people waking up the next day not know what had happened,' he concluded.

Fellow Little Village resident Irma Morales recalled the horrors she and her neighbors faced that day, as dust descended on the 4.4 square mile neighborhood.

Each claimant, officials said, will get some $317 in damages - .03 percent of the overall settlement

'I feel like it's a joke - they're laughing at us,' one resident said of the sums. 'It's not enough'

Some families were refused payments - because they were just outside of the agreed upon payout boundary

At the time of the disaster, photos on social media showed what appeared to be thick dust seeping into residential areas

'It was terrible,' she told the national news outlet. 'I have health issues — headaches — and since that time, the headaches are worse.' 

The local mom recalled how one of her sons warned her seconds before 'Mom, don't go outside, because it's happening' - and after that, being met with the implosion.

She added that the per-person sum she and thousands of other property owners are now poised to reap is nowhere near enough, as documents show that more than 21,000 personal injury claims have been deemed to be valid

Each person, officials said, will get approximately $317 in damages - .03 percent of the overall settlement. 

'I feel like it's a joke - they're laughing at us,' she said of the awards. 'It's not enough.'

'Three hundred is the only one appointment for the doctor,' she added, visibly frustrated. 'So it's a joke. They're playing with us.'

Shortly before, another resident, Elizabeth Rodriguez, told U.S. District Judge Young B. Kim how her husband still has difficulties breathing four years after the event. 

However, she and her family were left out of the Tuesday agreement - due to the fact she and her family reside just outside the agree-upon boundaries for the new payouts, which will see a total of $1 million will go to anyone who owned or leased a home or business within that area that was damaged by dust and debris.

Residents stood outside the Illinois courthouse with signs critical of the city government in place at the time

Some said the per-person sum she and thousands of other property owners are now poised to reap is nowhere near enough, as many remain hesitant to trust city officials

'Pollution and exploitation are not acceptable,' messages penned in Spanish asserted on activists' signs, as no more suits surrounding the incident will be allowed

Irma Morales recalled the horrors she and her neighbors faced that day, as dust descended on the 4.4 square mile neighborhood

Juan Rangel - among those eligible for a cash payment - recalled to Fox 23 how he and others in the radius heard a large boom before being covered in soot

Edith Tovar, from the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization, said the settlement is at least something, and a step toward someone taking accountability for what had occurred

Another $7 million, meanwhile, is set go to anyone who was in the designated area on the day of the demolition and has proof, while the rest - more than $4million - will go toward attorney fees.

Edith Tovar, from the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization, told CBS the settlement is at least something, and a step toward someone taking accountability for what had occurred. 

'It's bittersweet,' the Little Village resident said, as she and others stood outside the Illinois courthouse with signs critical of the city government that had been in place at the time of the demolition. 

'This settlement case allowed us to voice our concerns in a courtroom, but it's still not enough for the long-term effects that our residents are bearing right now.'

This comes almost four years to the day after former Mayor Lori Lightfoot blamed the apparent failure on the developer the city had fired in Hilco, prior to the city’s former inspector general claiming that it was city officials who oversaw the demolition who should take responsibility.

Joe Ferguson went on to publish an in-depth report in 2021 that blamed two city officials specifically, claiming they had had been 'negligent' and showed 'incompetence' while planning, failing to protect the public from harm.

The probe, which claimed the entire ordeal was completely 'avoidable', was finalized in 2021, but long kept secret by the former mayor's administration.

This settlement come almost four years to the day after then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot blamed the apparent failure on the developer the city had fired, prior to the city’s old inspector general claiming that it was city officials who oversaw the demolition who should take responsibility

She has since been replace by Brandon Johnson, who for most of his first year in office was tasked with cleaning up his fellow Democrat's mess

She has since been replace by Brandon Johnson, who for most of his first year in office was tasked with cleaning up his fellow Democrat's mess.

This included  the implosion of the nearly 400-feet-tall chimney at the old Crawford coal-fired power plant, which could have been prevented by former Department of Buildings Staffer Marlene Hopkins and pubic health official David Graham, Ferguson found.

Lightfoot declined to discipline Hopkins, while Graham reportedly received a written reprimand. 

Moreover, instead of being fired, Hopkins recently ascended to the highest position with the Department of Buildings, named commissioner back in March.

At the time, new mayor Johnson hailed Hopkins as 'a proven leader', despite Ferguson finding she and other officials did not do enough to ensure that those who lived near the former power plant were informed about the planned implosion.

During the ceremony celebrating her unanimous appointment on March 20, only Ald. David Moore seemed to hint at the disaster darkening Hopkins’ appointment.

'Are you perfect?' Moore asked at the time.

'No,' Hopkins answered.

'But you strive for perfection?' Moore questioned - to which an ecstatic Moore replied: 'Always.'

Meanwhile, more than 20,000 are set to receive payments.

Still,  Kim Wasserman, executive director of the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization, said the $12 sum is still pennies to Hilco, which has an estimated annual revenue of $146.5million per year.