Atrazine Class Action Settlement Checks Go Out!

Atrazine Class Action Settlement Checks Go Out!

By Matt O’Donnell

Payments from the Atrazine class action settlement are now being sent to water systems across the country. Over 1,000 community water systems will share in the $105 million settlement with Syngenta, the largest manufacturer of the weed killer.

Atrazine is the subject of a special review by the Environmental Protection Agency to determine its possible connection to adverse health problems, especially in developing fetuses. Tens of millions of pounds of the weed killer are sprayed on new corn crops each year, which often ends up in the rivers and streams providing water to communities across the country.

“Science has been fighting an uphill battle against giant pesticide manufacturers like Syngenta who claim that a little weed killer in your drinking water won’t hurt you. Independent scientists now believe that even trace amounts can harm you and your children for generations to come,” said lead counsel Stephen M. Tillery, senior partner of Korein Tillery, in a statement.

The Atrazine settlement resolves a 2010 class action lawsuit, titled City of Greenville v. Syngenta Crop Protection, that alleges Syngenta knew Atrazine would enter drinking water supplies and asked that Syngenta pay the cost to remove it.

Syngenta denied any wrongdoing but agreed to create a $105 million class action lawsuit settlement fund to resolve the litigation. Community Water Systems across the U.S. had until August 28, 2012 to test their water for Atrazine contamination and apply for a payment from the Atrazine class action settlement. The settlement fund was designed to help reimburse communities for expenses associated with the removal of Atrazine.

Tillery said the percentage of participating Class Members was unprecedented, with nearly 1,100 community water providers filing claims and receiving a portion of the funds. Over 1,000 Top Class Actions readers read our announcement of the Atrazine Contaminated Water Class Action Settlement, which helped spread awareness of the case.

Congratulations to our readers that filed a claim for the Syngenta Atrazine settlement and will be receiving payments soon.

Updated January 18th, 2013

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