Hilco Redevelopment Crawford Coal Plant demo damages $12.25M class action settlement

Hilco Redevelopment agreed to a $12.25 million settlement to resolve a class action lawsuit claiming that it failed to protect Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood from property damage and personal injuries when demolishing its Crawford Coal Plant.

The Hilco settlement benefits individuals and entities whose property received particulate matter from the demolition and disposal of the smokestack at the Crawford Coal Plant and was in the geographic area from 33rd Street and Kedzie Avenue, west to 33rd Street and Kilbourn Avenue, north to Kilbourn Avenue and Cermak Road, east to Cermak Road and Ogden Avenue, northeast to Ogden Avenue and California Avenue, south to 26th Street and California Avenue, west to 26th Street and Sacramento Avenue, south to Sacramento Avenue and 31st Street, west to 31st Street and Kedzie Avenue, and south to 33rd Street and Kedzie Avenue on April 11, 2020.

The settlement also includes a personal injury class of individuals present in the area from 33rd Street and Kedzie Avenue, west to 33rd Street and Kilbourn Ave., north to Kilbourn Avenue and Cermak Road, east to Cermak Road and Ogden Avenue, northeast to Ogden Avenue and California Avenue, south to 26th Street and California Avenue, west to 26th Street and Sacramento Avenue, south to Sacramento Avenue and 31st Street, west to 31st Street and Kedzie Avenue, and south to 33rd Street and Kedzie Avenue during the Crawford Coal Plan demolition on April 11, 2020.

According to the class action lawsuit, Hilco Redevelopment and other defendants failed to take precautions to protect Chicago’s Little Village from damages when it demolished a smokestack at its former Crawford Coal Plant. The demolition allegedly caused personal injury and property damage in the surrounding areas.

The Crawford Coal Plant smokestack was demolished in 2020, sending a massive dust cloud into the area that covered surrounding properties. City officials came under fire after the demolition for allegedly failing to take steps to prevent “almost cataclysmic” harm, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Hilco Redevelopment hasn’t admitted wrongdoing but agreed to a $12.25 million settlement to resolve the class action lawsuit.

Under the terms of the Hilco settlement, class members can receive cash payments for any property damage or personal injuries they experienced during demolition. 

Claimants can receive a refund for property damage up to the total documented value of the damage. If property damage claims exceed the $1 million fund for these payments, class member payments may be reduced proportionally.

Personal injury claimants can receive a share of the personal injury fund, which is expected to be at least $7 million after attorneys’ fees and other expenses are paid. Exact payments will vary, but claimants are expected to receive between $200 and $400.

If funds remain in the settlement account after the initial distribution, a second round of payments may be distributed to class members who cashed their first payments.

The deadline for exclusion and objection is Feb. 26, 2024.

The final approval hearing for the Hilco class action lawsuit settlement is scheduled for April 22, 2024.

To receive settlement benefits, class members must submit a valid claim form by March 26, 2024.

Who’s Eligible

The settlement benefits individuals and entities whose property received particulate matter from the demolition and disposal of the smokestack at the Crawford Coal Plant and was in the geographic area from 33rd Street and Kedzie Avenue, west to 33rd Street and Kilbourn Avenue, north to Kilbourn Avenue and Cermak Road, east to Cermak Road and Ogden Avenue, northeast to Ogden Avenue and California Avenue, south to 26th Street and California Avenue, west to 26th Street and Sacramento Avenue, south to Sacramento Avenue and 31st Street, west to 31st Street and Kedzie Avenue, and south to 33rd Street and Kedzie Avenue on April 11, 2020.

The settlement also includes a personal injury class of individuals present in the area from 33rd Street and Kedzie Avenue, west to 33rd Street and Kilbourn Ave., north to Kilbourn Avenue and Cermak Road, east to Cermak Road and Ogden Avenue, northeast to Ogden Avenue and California Avenue, south to 26th Street and California Avenue, west to 26th Street and Sacramento Avenue, south to Sacramento Avenue and 31st Street, west to 31st Street and Kedzie Avenue, and south to 33rd Street and Kedzie Avenue during the Crawford Coal Plan demolition on April 11, 2020.

Potential Award

Varies

Proof of Purchase

Receipts, pictures, invoices and other documentation of property damage dollar amounts and descriptions

Claim Form

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

03/26/2024

Case Name

Solis, et al. v. Hilco Redevelopment LLC, et al., Case No. 1:20-cv-02348, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Final Hearing

04/22/2024

Settlement Website

LittleVillageSmokeStack.com

Claims Administrator

Little Village Smokestack Settlement
Claims Administrator
PO Box 25191
Santa Ana, CA, 92799
info@LittleVillageSmokestack.com
877-272-4962

Class Counsel

Steve Art
Scott Rauscher
Renee Spence
LOEVY & LOEVY

Defense Counsel

Bradley Weidenhammer
Brendan Ryan
KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP

Edward DeVries
WILSON ELSER LLP

Scott Pfeiffer
Andrew Rice
Cray Huber Hortsman
HEIL & VANAUSDAL LLC

Thomas Lyman
AMUNDSEN DAVIS LLC