Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.
A federal court judge has given preliminary approval to an $11.5 million settlement in the 2003 Buzzards Bay oil spill in Massachusetts. If you owned or had deeded rights to waterfront property of any type along Buzzards Bay on April 27, 2003 that was oiled as a result of the spill, you may be eligible to receive money from the class action lawsuit settlement.
On April 27, 2003, an estimated 98,000 gallons of fuel oil was dumped into Buzzards Bay when a tank barge struck the rocks of Westport, Massachusetts. The oil washed ashore and damaged more than 90 miles of shoreline. The class action lawsuit was brought on behalf of nearly 2,500 waterfront property owners whose property was damaged by the oil spill. Defendants Bouchard Transportation Company, Inc., Tug Evening Tide Corporation and B. No. 120 Corporation were accused of negligently causing the accident that caused the oil spill.
If you owned or had deeded rights to waterfront property on April 27, 2003 that was oiled by the spill (or you’re an heir of a class member), you must submit a valid claim form by October 25, 2010. The class action excludes those who had property located in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts.
Your share of the settlement money will be based on which oiling designation was recorded at your property: Trace or Light Oiling, Moderate Oiling, or Heavy Oiling. A detailed account of how you can calculate your settlement benefits can be found in the class action settlement notice. Those who wish to object or exclude themselves from the settlement must do so by October 10, 2010.
A final fairness hearing will be held November 4, 2010. For more information on the Buzzards Bay Oil Spill Class Action Lawsuit Settlement, visit the Bouchard Litigation Settlement Website.
Updated August 27th, 2010
All class action and lawsuit news updates are listed in the Lawsuit News section of Top Class Actions
Top Class Actions Legal Statement