EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Two oil companies have tentatively agreed to a $16 million settlement in a series of lawsuits from Hartford village residents who claimed gasoline fumes have befouled their homes for decades.
Shell Oil Products and Premcor Refining Group reached the agreement with Hartford residents earlier this month, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported, and a fairness hearing is scheduled for July 15 before Madison County Circuit Judge Dan Stack.
Shell would contribute $8.5 million and Premcor $7.5 million.
Most of the claims were filed in 2003 and 2004, alleging that Shell, Premcor and other oil companies dumped more than 3 million gallons of gasoline and other hydrocarbons beneath the village. Plaintiffs sought damages for negligence, trespass, emotional distress and medical monitoring.
Shell and Premcor did not admit to any of the allegations and the settlement does not affect any of the other defendants, which include Apex Oil, Atlantic Richfield and Sinclair Oil. The settlement could benefit anyone who lived in Hartford from Jan. 1, 1984 to April 3, 2008. It is not clear how much each homeowner might receive.
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